Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com www.safetynews.co.uk began compiling accident and fatality incidents in April of 2007. The following are accidents and fatalities involving mines, quarries, pits, and tunnels taken from their website.
April 2007-August 20th 2013
August 2013
Israel Worker killed in machinery accident at tunnel A 53-year old construction worker was killed yesterday after being struck in the lower body by heavy equipment while working at a tunnel mining site at Sha'ar HaGai, 15 miles from Jerusalem on the Tel Aviv highway. 20th August 2013
Australia Worker breaks ankle in fall down chute at NSW mine A 25-year old worker broke his ankle in a fall down a chute at the Drayton Coal Mine in Muswellbrook, he was trapped for a couple of hours prior to hospitalisation. 20th August 2013
USA Fatal accident at Wyoming coal mine A transport accident has claimed the life of a Wyoming miner at the Black Thunder mine of Arch Coal. The 24-year old victim was in the cab of his lorry when a power shovel moving up a ramp rolled backwards into his vehicle, a colleague was hospitalised but his injuries are not life-threatening. 19th August 2013
China Tunnel collapse kills 4 workers at hydro site Four construction workers have died in a structural collapse at a tunnel under construction at the hydropower station site being built by Jiangxi Water and Hydropower Construction in Jiangxi province.14th August 2013
Slovakia Fatal blasting explosion at road tunnel site A 39-year old worker died and 5 others were injured in an explosion which led to an earth slippage during blasting work yesterday in the Sibenik tunnel near Spissky Hrhov, part of the the new D1 highway between Janovce and Jablonov. 13th August 2013 Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
Austria Worker killed in stone crusher A 21-year old Steyr worker has died in a crush accident while trying to deal with a breakdown in stone-crushing machinery at the site of a new chairlift facility at Schladming. He had switched off the machinery and then lifted the cover to step down on to its conveyor belt system. However it lurched forward and he became pinned between the roller and crusher plates. 8th August 2013
South Africa Fall of ground fatality at platinum mine A Section 54 stop work order was issued at the Bokoni platinum mine of Atlatsa Resources in Limpopo after a miner died in a fall of ground accident. 8th August 2013
USA Wall collapse kills Kentucky miner A 56-year old Kentucky miner has died and 2 others were injured following the collapse of a wall underground at Huff Creek Mine No. 1 operated by Lone Mountain Processing in East Kentucky. 8th August 2013
July 2013
Ukraine Miner killed in fall of rock A miner was killed and 3 others were hospitalised following a fall of rock and a methane discharge at the Shcheglovskaya-Glubokaya coal mine in Makeyevka, Donetsk. 15th July 2013
South Korea Worker dead, 6 missing in flooded tunnel at reservoir One worker was killed yesterday and 6 are missing in a flooded tunnel at a reservoir near the Han River which runs through Seoul. The workers were removing old water pipes at the bottom of the 48-metre high reservoir when water ingress occurred from the rain-swollen Han, leaving them trapped in the tunnel. 16th July 2013
Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
June 2013
Switzerland Double fatality as lorry rolls 800m down tunnel at pump station Two workers were killed yesterday at the Mega-Pump Station Linthal 2015 in an accident involving a lorry which rolled 800 metres back down into a tunnel, details of the accident were unclear, it was not known if the lorry had completed unloading material or had experienced mechanical failure as it was leaving the tunnel. 26th June 2013
Thailand Workers killed and missing in landslide at rock grinding plant A worker has died and 2 others are missing following a landslide at the Phetsamut rock grinding plant in Phetchaburi, south of Bangkok, 4 other injured workers were admitted to Phra Chomklao Hospital. 4th June 2013
Indonesia Worker killed in tunnel maintenance accident A worker carrying out maintenance in a tunnel in a Deep Orezone of the Grasberg mine of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold in Papua was severely injured in an accident at the weekend and subsequently died in hospital. 3rd June 2013
May 2013
Turkey Gas explosion kills coal miner An explosion in a private coal mine in Sirnak killed a 47-year old miner, 15 others managed to escape to safety. Search and rescue teams recovered the victim's body in an 11-hour operation. 20th May 2013
South Africa Gold mine fatality A miner was killed in a rail accident at level 113 on Thursday at the Kusasalethu mine of Harmony Gold in Carletonville. 17th May 2013
China 40 miners killed in 2 gas accidents Forty miners have died in separate gas incidents at 2 collieries over the weekend. Twenty eight miners died at the Taozigou mine in Luzhou, Sichuan, where it was Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com speculated that poor ventilation and a high concentration of gas occurred during unauthorised mining, all mining in the province has been suspended pending a programme of safety audits. At the Dashan coal mine in Pingba County, Guizhou, 12 miners died and 2 were injured in a gas explosion there. 13th May 2013
Canada Worker buried under extracted earth at gold mine The Ministry of Labour in Ontario is investigating a crush fatality at the Eagle River gold mine of Wesdome in the Thunder Bay area where a worker was buried under a pile of earth from a mining extraction. 2nd May 2013
April 2013
Russia Coal mine fire An electric cable fire in a rock-drill shop at the Novo Kalyinskaya coal mine in Sverdlovsk led to the evacuation of all 122 miners underground, no injuries were reported. 26th April 2013
South Africa Mine worker killed in loco accident The Department of Mineral Resources is investigating a fatal accident at Mponeng mine of AngloGold Ashanti at Carletonville where a locomotive operator died after being struck by a locomotive. 26th April 2013
England UK Coal fined over Notts colliery crush accident At Nottingham Crown Court UK Coal has been fined £125K plus £175K in costs over a fatal accident at Thoresby Colliery on 24th July 2009 where a 47-year old worker was crushed to death. A load of steel pipes, each weighing more than 11 stones, were being unloaded from a rail-borne car underground, but they became unstable and rolled sideways as the worker cut plastic bands securing the load. HSE investigation found that the pipe packs could not sit evenly on the type of car being use and could become unstable on a tilted track. The company pleaded guilty to breaches of Section 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974. 17th April 2013
Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
Rep Ireland Tipperary miner killed in rockfall Efforts were ongoing yesterday to recover the body of the operator of a loader who was buried in a rockfall in a shaft at the lead and zinc Lisheen Mine of the Vedanta Resources Group, located between Moyne and Templetuohy in north Tipperary. 7th April 2013
Tanzania 3 killed in Arusha gravel mine collapse Three miners were killed and a major rescue effort was launched to reach 11 miners and lorry drivers trapped underground when a roof collapsed in a gravel mine in the Moshono area of Arusha in the north of Tanzania. Mining operations were ongoing at the time and 2 lorries were being loaded when the collapse occurred. 2nd April 2013
March 2013
Tibet Landslide traps 83 at Lhasa gold miners' camp As many as 83 workers have become trapped under a landslide at a dormitory camp at a mine in the Maizhokunggar area of Lhasa, the workers are believed to belong to a subsidiary of the China National Gold Group Corporation and were caught by surprise by the slippage estimated at 3km wide and of 2 million cubic metres in volume. Hospitals were alerted to receive emergency patients but late on Friday it was unclear whether rescuers had been able to reach any workers at the stricken area. 30th March 2013
USA Quarry worker killed in rock blasting accident A worker was killed in a crush accident after being buried under several tonnes of rock following an accident during routine blasting of rock at the Fred Weber Inc quarry in Maryland Heights, Missouri. 29th March 2013
Russia Search for missing Siberian miners A search and rescue effort has been ongoing at the Osinnikovskaya emergency mine in Kemerovo where 4 miners are unaccounted for. Of the 143 miners underground early on Wednesday, 134 managed to leave the mine by their own means as another 5 continued with drainage work. 28th March 2013 Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
Poland Miners rescued after seismic event at Silesian copper mine A successful rescue was achieved of all 19 miners trapped for 8 hours 1,000 metres underground at the Rudna copper mine in Polkowice, Lower Silesia, following a seismic event measuring 5 on the Richter scale. At 1,250 metres this is the deepest of KGHM Polish Copper's mines. 21st March 2013
Russia Electrician electrocuted in Kemerovo mine A maintenance worker has died after apparently being electrocuted while working on a transformer in the Kostromovskaya coal mine in Kemerovo, his body was found at the locus with burn marks on his lower arm. 15th March 2013
India Fatality at Chasnala deep mine A 26-year old Jharkhand miner was killed in a crush accident yesterday when a heavy section of coal fell on him as he was preparing to place an explosive charge in a hole drilled in the wall of a mine at Chasnala. 14th March 2013
Australia Fatality at Queensland mine site A subcontract worker has been killed in an accident at a site near Xstrata's Mount Isa Mines copper smelter where an ammonium nitrate plant for the Queensland mining industry is being developed. The victim was understood to have been engaged in contract work for explosives and fertiliser companyIncitec Pivot. 7th March 2013
February 2013
Bolivia 4 miners killed in gas incident Four miners have died after being overcome by gas fumes at the Uncia Mine complex in the Potosi area, 250 miles south of La Paz, where mining operations for tin, zinc and silver are undertaken.22nd February 2013
USA Crush fatality at Illinois mine A 28-year old Illinois miner has died in a crush accident at the Prairie Eagle coal mine in
Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
Cutler. He was operating machinery cutting coal from the seam by remote control when he became pinned between the equipment and the coal face. 15th February 2013
Russia 18 miners die in methane explosion Eighteen miners have died in a methane gas explosion at Vorkuta-Ugol company's Vorkutinskaya mine in Komi, charges are likely to be brought under Article 216 of the Russian Federation Criminal Code where by a breach of safety regulations resulted in a fatal accident killing 2 or more people. 12th February 2013
South Africa Blasting fatality at Free State mine An accident during blasting operations at the Saaiplaas Three demolition site near Virginia has claimed the life of a worker at the Harmony Gold mine in the Free State. 7th February 2013
South Africa Foreman dies in fall down old mine shaft A Section 54 stop work order was issued at the Zandfontein section of the Crocodile River Mine of Eastern Platinum where a shift supervisor has died in a fall into an empty ore shaft. 6th February 2013
Canada Quarry workers bodies recovered At the weekend the bodies of 2 workers were found at the Maskimo Construction quarry in L'Epiphanie, 30 miles northeast of Montreal. A landslide at the quarry had caused both men and their vehicles to become buried under a large mass of loose gravel, the force of the slippage caused both bodies to be ejected from the vehicles. 4th February 2013
January 2013
China Miners dead and missing in CO accident A carbon monoxide accident has claimed the lives of 12 miners at the Yongsheng colliery in Heilongjiang province. Eighteen miners had entered the pit to pump out water but encountered a CO-rich atmosphere, only 3 of them could be rescued, 3 others are still missing.31st January 2013 Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
USA Death at Nevada limestone quarry A fatal accident investigation is underway at the Apex Quarry and Plant limestone quarry of Lhoist North America of Arizona where a 54-year old worker died in a fall at the site 8 miles north of Las Vegas. 23rd January 2013
Russia Methane holds back search for missing miners High methane gas levels have been hampering the search and rescue effort for 4 miners missing in the Kuzbass Mine No 7 in the Prokopyevsk district of Kemerovo in Western Siberia. Four workers have died but 69 others managed to escape to safety. The 77 workers were undertaking exhaustive inspection work at the mine where production was stopped 2 weeks after a miner died in a wall collapse. 21st January 2013
December 2012
Wales Divers rescued in quarry accident Two divers have been airlifted to the Murrayfield hyperbaric unit in the Wirral with suspected decompression sickness after getting into difficulties during a dive at the Dorothea Quarry in Gwynedd. Paramedics stabilised the injured men at the locus prior to airlift to hospital. 17th December 2012
Australia Worker critically injured in Tasmanian quarry explosion A Tasmanian worker was listed in critical condition in Launceston General Hospital last night after an accident involving an explosion yesterday in a quarry 2 miles south of Bicheno. 19th December 2012
Canada Alberta quarry conveyor accident under investigation A fatal accident investigation is ongoing at a Hammerstone Corporation limestone quarry, 45 miles north of Fort McMurray, where a 32-year old worker died in a crush accident after becoming caught in a conveyor system. Earlier this year a worker died in a chain whiplash accident at the quarry. 12th December 2012
Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
Russia Rockfall in Rostov mine kills plant operator A 36-year old excavator driver has been killed in a rock fall accident at the Obukhovskaya mine of the Donbass Fuel and Energy company in Rostov-on-Don. 3rd December 2012
Cambodia 3 workers missing in tunnel accident at Pursat dam site Three workers are missing, feared drowned, in an accident at the Atay River hydropower dam site in the jungle area of O'Som in Veal Veng. A 10-metre diameter concrete tunnel cracked under pressure as water was being transferred from a reservoir to test a dam turbine at the site in Pursat province. 6th December 2012
Japan 5 dead in Yamanashi road tunnel collapse At least 5 people died and others were injured when the Sasago tunnel on the Chuo Expressway in Otsuki collapsed. Heavy concrete roof sections of the tunnel on a main highway between Tokyo and Nagoya came down on traffic and fire broke out as one of the vehicles ignited. 3rd December 2012
China 14 miners trapped in flooded pit Fourteen miners were trapped by water when flooding occurred at the Furuixiang mine in Qitaihe. There were 22 miners in the area and 6 managed to escape to safety as the water rushed in. Two others were subsequently rescued as more pumps were introduced to reach the missing miners. 3rd December 2012
November 2012
China 5 Guizhou miners die in gas explosion A gas explosion has killed 18 miners at the state-owned Xiangshui coal mine in Guizhou, 5 miners were rescued but it was unclear if others were trapped, as it was believed that 28 were underground at the time.25th November 2012
USA Crush fatality at Illinois mine An Illinois mining worker has died in a crush accident at Willow Lake Mine in the south Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com of the state where he became trapped in a continuous mining machine he was operating.19th November 2012
Finland Contaminated wastewater leak at nickel mine A leak of 5,600m³ of contaminated wastewater has occurred at the Talvivaara nickel mine in eastern Finland with nickel and uranium entering many local water courses. The owners moved swiftly to collect as much of the contaminated water as possible in tanks at the mine, with implications for environmental monitoring locally for the foreseeable future. SYKE( Suomen Ymparistokeskus), the Finnish Environment Institute, and STUK(Sateilyturvakeskus), the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, are monitoring the situation. 15th November 2012
South Africa Fatality at gold mine A Harmony Gold miner was killed in an accident on Monday at the Kusasalethu plant in Carletonville, all drilling in the immediate vicinity of the accident was suspended pending investigation. 13th November 2012
USA Worker killed in auger at New York shale mine A 30-year old New York worker was killed in an accident while operating an industrial drill at the Northeast Solite Corporation shale mine in Saugerties. He was drilling holes for explosive charges when he became caught in the drive shaft of an auger. 3rd November 2012 October 2012
Colombia Worker buried alive in sandpit A lorry driver has died after becoming buried in sand when subsidence occurred at a sandpit in the village of Matanzas in the rural area of San Agustin. 28th October 2012
Canada Mining surveyor swept away in avalanche A 50-year old surveyor has died after being swept off a 300-metre high cliff while capturing data with a colleague at the Seabridge Gold mine camp 30 miles north of Stewart, British Columbia, a colleague survived after freeing himself from the avalanche. 25th October 2012 Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
Russia Fatal accident in Sverdlovsk mine A fall of ground accident has claimed the life of a miner in Sverdlovsk. He had been engaged in blasting work but it was unclear whether his work activity caused the accident. His failure to check out at the end of his shift raised the alarm, he was later found dead with multiple fractures. 25th October 2012
Dominican Republic Worker buried in sandpit accident A 19-year old Haitian worker has died in a crush accident in a sandpit in Vengam a Ver, northwest of Duverge. 2nd October 2012
September 2012
Poland Silesian miner killed in fall of ground A rockfall at the Wujek-Slask coal mine in Ruda Slaska, Upper Silesia, claimed the life of a 45-year old miner, 2 colleagues managed to escape to safety. Rescuers strove for several hours to prop up the collapsed ceiling but the miner was pronounced dead at the scene, the 24th national mining fatality of the current year. 25th September 2012
Wales Man rescued from disused Powys mine shaft A cave rescue team was called in to complete the safe rescue of a man who had fallen 10 metres into a disused mine shaft while walking in woodland at Taliesin in Powys. 16th September 2012
China Workers died in fall down 200m shaft at new mine More than 10 workers have died after a platform overturned and they fell 200-metres into a water-filled shaft at the site of the new Huacaoton Coal Mine being built by Zhangye Hononeng Coal Industry Ltd in Zhangye City, Gansu. 9th September 2012
India Worker crushed in coal cleaning machine A coal worker has died in a crush accident in Godhavarikhani, Andhra Pradesh, where he slipped and fell into a coal washing machine while cleaning a conveyor feeding system.11th September 2012 Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
August 2012
China Gas explosion kills 19 miners, traps 28 others Nineteen miners died and another 28 are trapped following a gas explosion at Zhengjin Industry & Trade Co Ltd's Xiaojiawan coal mine in Panzhihua City, Sichuan. Most of the dead miners succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning. 31st August 2012 Switzerland Worker dies after fall in Simplon tunnel A 56-year old Italian worker died yesterday in hospital in Sion from severe internal injuries after a fall at a work site in the Simplon rail tunnel. He was on a bogey being pushed by an engine when the bogey suddenly derailed and he fell heavily on to the rails. 30th August 2012
Wales Quarry diver in decompression accident A diver underwent decompression treatment in Murrayfield Hospital on the Wirral after becoming unwell during a dive at the 91-metre deep Dorothea quarry in the Nantle Valley in Snowdonia. 28th August 2012
Singapore Worker falls down 23m hole at rail site The health and safety inspectorate of the Ministry of Manpower has issued a stop work order at the Tuas west rail extension site being operated by constructor China Railway 11 Bureau Group Corporation following a fatal accident in which a worker died in a fall down a 23-metre deep bore hole. A rebar cage was being lowered by chain when it became loose and dragged the worker into the 1.5-metre wide hole. 28th August 2012
Dem Rep of Congo At least 60 killed in accident at abandoned gold mine More than 60 people have died when a shaft collapsed at an illegal gold mine at Pangoyi in Mambasa territory in Orientale province. The mine had been abandoned following clashes between the army and a militia. The accident occurred with miners 100 metres underground, the maximum depth for small scale Congolese mining operations would be 30 metres. 17th August 2012
Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
Pakistan Balochistan mine accident One miner has died and another was injured in a fall of ground accident at a coal mine in the Sharag area of Harnai, Balochistan. 17th August 2012
Poland Miner's body recovered after fall down shaft The body of a 29-year old Silesian miner has been recovered after he fell down a shaft while working 460 metres underground at a coal mine of PG Silesia in Czechowice- Dziedzice. He was on a conveyor belt system when he fell down the 25-metre deep shaft. Seven miners have died in Silesian mines during the last 5 weeks, with 16 miners having now died nationally this year. 15th August 2012
China 4 dead, 17 trapped in Jilin mine A rescue operation was ongoing yesterday to reach 17 miners trapped following a gas explosion at the Jisheng coal mine in Baishan, Jilin. Four miners were known to have died, 95 of the 116 miners underground at the time managed to escape to safety. 13th August 2012
South Africa Electrocution at gold mine The Department of Mineral Resources is investigating a fatal accident in which an electrician was electrocuted during inspection work at a substation at AngloGold Ashanti's Mponeng mine at Carletonville. 13th August 2012
Botswana Mine worker injured in transformer explosion A transformer explosion occurred at the Jwaneng mine which injured an employee of Debswana who is listed in stable condition in hospital in Gabarone. 13th August 2012
USA West Virginia miner dies in crush accident A 43-year old miner has died in a crush accident after being pinned by equipment at the Beckley Pocahontas Mine of the International Coal Group in Eccles, West Virginia, the state's 4th mining fatality of this year. 2nd August 2012
Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
July 2012
Spain Labourer buried under earth at quarry An Ecuadorian labourer has died after being buried under a mass of earth at a calcium carbonate mining quarry at Quintanilla de los Ausines in Burgos. 29th July 2012
USA Crush accident at West Virginia mine A crush accident has claimed the life of a West Virginia miner at the Fork Creek No 10 mine of the Coal River Mining LLC. He was moving a continuous mixer but became caught between the machine and the mine wall. This was the 3rd state mining death of 2012. 29th July 2012
Russia Miners die in methane explosion Two accidents at Kemorovo mines yesterday saw 3 miners killed. The fatalities occurred in a methane explosion at the Ziminka mine in the Prokopyevsk district. Fire broke out at the No3-Tolmachevsky coal bed at the Komsomolets mine in Lenisk- Kuzhnetsky where all 263 miners were safely evacuated. 27th July 2012
Wales Diver rescued at quarry A diver was rescued and airlifted to a decompression chamber in a Wirral hospital yesterday after getting into difficulties and ascending too quickly after a dive at the 90- metre deep Dorothea Quarry in Nantlle Valley.27th July 2012
England Worn valve failed in Yorks mine crush fatality UK Coal has been fined £200K at Leeds Crown Court over the death of a miner at Kellingley Pit in North Yorkshire where he was crushed by a powered roof support which lowered spontaneously, crushing him against accumulated debris. Investigation found that a valve in the support was worn and defective and that supports had been salvaged from another coal face and assessed by UK Coal as fit for transfer with limited maintenance. The supports were supplied by Joy Machinery Ltd who had failed to notify UK Coal of a similar malfunction in Australia in 2008. Joy was fined £50K at an earlier hearing.19th July 2012
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Tunisia Reversing lorry kills 4 in car at phosphate mine Four occupants of a car were killed when their vehicle was struck by reversing lorry yesterday at the Jlabia phosphate mine of the Gafsa company in M'dhilla. 12th July 2012
China Miners killed in explosion, other rescued from flooded pit Seven miners died in a methane gas explosion on Sunday at the Xiangzhong Coal Mine in Lianyuan. Elsewhere on Sunday, 8 miners were rescued after being trapped for 3 days in the flooded Qielichong Coal Mine in Sandu, Leiyang, strenuous efforts were ongoing last night to reach the remaining 8 miners. Forty miners were underground when water ingress occurred, trapping 16 of them. 9th July 2012
Botswana Roof collapse kills diamond miner A stop-work order was issued at the Jwaneng diamond mine of the Debswana Diamond Company, 75 miles west of Gaborone, where a partial roof collapse occurred, killing a 34-year old worker driving a vehicle underground. All other 15 miners underground survived the accident. 3rd July 2012
South Africa 5 gold miners die in fire at West Rand mine Five miners died and 14 others have been hospitalised in stable condition following a fire on the night shift on Saturday at 4Shaft(Ya-Rona) KDC West mine of GoldFields in Carletonville. The miners were engaged in mudloading when the fire broke out, there have been allegations that there was a lack of compressed air in this section, compromising ventilation. 2nd July 2012
June 2012
Romania Transylvanian workers badly burned in mine boiler explosion A 43-year old manager and a 41-year old engineer were admitted to the burns unit of a hospital in Bucharest yesterday evening after being sprayed by boiling water in a boiler explosion at the Petrila mine in Jiu Valley. They were treated initially in a clinic in Petrosani prior to transfer by SMURD(Serviciul Mobil de Urgenta Reanimare si Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
Descarcerare) to Bucharest. The senior worker has grade 3 and 4 burns over 60% of his body, the engineer has 40% burns. An explosion at the mine in 2008 saw 12 miners killed. 19th June 2012 May 2012
India Falling stone kills Rajasthan quarry worker Unstable stone has fallen and killed a worker and injured 3 others in a quarry in the Harmara area of Jaipur. 31st May 2012
Japan 4 construction workers killed in tunnel gas explosion The bodies of 4 construction workers were recovered yesterday from the Hakkatoge tunnel in Niigata where a gas explosion had occurred about a mile inside. High concentrations of gases, notably hydrogen sulphide, posed problems for recovery workers. 28th May 2012
Chile Drilling fatality at Tarapaca copper mine A 37-year old miner was killed in an accident while operating drilling equipment at the Collahuasi copper mine, the 3rd fatality at the mine this year. 28th May 2012
China Explosives blast in tunnel kills 20 Hunan roads workers Twenty construction workers were killed when explosives became unstable during unloading at a highway site in a tunnel between Yanling and Rucheng in Hunan. 21st May 2012
USA Underground transport accident in Kentucky mine A female lorry driver has died in an accident at the Sterling Materials limestone mine at Verona, North Kentucky. The accident occurred almost a mile underground, it appears that the lorry struck a rock wall and, after the impact pitched her out, she was subsequently run over by the vehicle. 17th May 2012
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Poland Roof collapse kills Silesian miner Despite a major rescue effort it proved impossible to save the life of a Silesian miner who died in a roof collapse some 850 metres underground in the Sosnica-Makoszowy mine in Zabrze. 15th May 2012
Mexico Worker's body recovered after 50m mine fall The body of a 46-year old worker has been recovered after he fell 50 metres while working at the Leticia mine to the north of Inde. 14th May 2012
China 4 killed during mine renovation work Mechanical equipment collapsed during renovation work at the Zhongtian Hechuang Hulusu coal mine in Uxin Banner, Ordos, killing 4 workers engaged in reconstruction work. 8th May 2012
April 2012
China 9 dead in gas explosion at Inner Mongolian mine Nine miners died and 16 were injured, 4 in critical condition, following a gas explosion early on Monday at the Xingya coal mine at Urad in Bayannur City. Recovery and investigative work was drawing to a close late on Monday evening at the licensed mine. 24th April 2012
Peru Miner trapped 4 days dies at moment of rescue After 4 days trapped underground at the Luicho mine on Colta a miner died just at the point when rescue teams were freeing him and beginning to move him. His foot had been trapped under rocks and medics speculated that thrombosis travelled to his lung at this point. The miner had also been contending with low temperatures during his ordeal. 23rd April 2012
Ecuador El Oro miners killed in explosives accident Two miners aged 21 and 23 have died in an explosion in a mine in the Playas area in
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Pasaje, El Oro province. They were working at a depth of 115 metres and were believed to have been setting explosive charges when the accident occurred. 19th April 2012
Canada Fatal fall at Quebec ore mine A worker fell from an elevated walkway at the Cliffs Natural Resources ore mine in Bloom Lake, Quebec, succumbing to his injuries later in hospital in Fermont.18th April 2012
UAE Quarry fatality prompts safety blitz Around 75 quarries and stone-crushing plants in Fujairah are to be subjected to a safety blitz in the coming days after a worker died yesterday while operating heavy machinery without a license at a quarry in the emirate.11th April 2012
March 2012
Colombia 2 killed, 1 injured in separate mine accidents Two Cundimarca miners have died and another was seriously injured in separate incidents. At the Aliso mine in Penas, Guacheta, the pulley of a drilling rig collapsed and killed a miner. At the Cerromatoso mine in Santuario, Guacheta, a 41 year old worker was killed in an accident during the unloading of coal from a wagon. And a roof collapse trapped a miner at La Ramada mine in Ramada Florez, Lenguazaque, the extent of his injuries was unknown.28th March 2012
Turkey Roof collapse and CO2 kill miners in separate incidents Three miners have died in separate accidents. At the TTK(Turkiye Taskomuru Kurumu Genel Mudurlu) Zonguldak mine, Turkish Hard Coal Enterprises, a roof collapse killed a miner 220 metres underground. Two miners succumbed to carbon dioxide poisoning at a private coal mine Amasya. 21st March 2012
Poland Foreman crushed in Silesian mine roof collapse A 45-year old miner died in a crush accident on Saturday at Kompania Weglowa's
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Marcel mine in Radlin, Upper Silesia. He was working 400 metres underground when a roof collapse saw him crushed against equipment. 19th March 2012
Russia Fatal accident at uranium mine A roof collapse has claimed the life of a worker of the Priargun Production Mining Chemical Association at the Gluboky uranium mine in Krasnokamensk. He was opening a ventilation system valve between levels 7 and 8 when the accident occurred. 16th March 2012
Chile Ore load crushes Coquimbo miner A crush accident has claimed the life of a young miner struck by a 9-tonne slab of ore at a mine 15 miles from Illapel, Coquimbo. 14th March 2012
Argentina Drilling accident at Andean site A fatal accident occurred yesterday at the Del Carmen project 50 miles south of the Veladero mine in the Iglesia department of San Juan where a miner of DAG XLSRL died in an accident while operating drilling machinery. 12th March 2012
Poland Silesian miner killed A 26-year old miner died in an accident on Monday 900 metres underground in the Staszic mine, Katowice, where he and a colleague were engaged in the construction of a conveyor belt system, the other miner was hospitalised with leg injuries. 13th March 2012
Chile Five killed in mining accidents A roof collapse at a mine near Taltal, 700 miles north of Santiago, left one miner dead and another injured. At the weekend 4 miners died in a carbon monoxide incident at a mine in Coquimbo. 7th March 2012
Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
February 2012
China 15 miners killed in underground train accident Fifteen Hunan miners were killed when a pit train derailed and overturned in a mine shaft near Leiyang, these trains are designated to carry coal and material and not personnel.17th February 2012
South Africa Female worker raped and murdered in mine A murder inquiry is ongoing at the scene of an incident at Anglo American Platinum's Khomanani mine in Rustenburg where a female worker was found dead at an underground location having been assaulted and raped. 8th February 2012
January 2012 File Not Found
December 2011
Malaysia Excavator driver killed in fall at quarry An excavator operator died in hospital from injuries in an accident at the Bukit Batu quarry in Kulaijaya. It was speculated that subsidence occurred as his vehicle neared the edge of the quarry but he managed to jump out of the cabin. However, he could not maintain his grasp on ground at the rim of the quarry and fell 30 metres, sustaining critical internal injuries. 28th December 2011
Australia Mining company fined over ore chute death At Perth Magistrates' Court Barrick Gold was fined $140K(£90,487) over an accident at the Kanowna Belle gold mine, Kalgoorlie, where a 26-year old worker died in a 25-metre fall down an ore chute on August 7th 2009. The company had tendered an early plea of guilty to a charge under the Mines Safety Act of failing to maintain a working environment where employees were not exposed to hazard, the early plea reduced the fine for which the maximum penalty could be $400K(£258,560). 23rd December 2011
Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
China Roof collapse kills 7 northeast China miners A 4-metre section of roof collapsed yesterday at the privately owned Huatai Coal Mine in Liaoning, trapping 7 miners. They were rescued from the rubble and transferred to hospital but none survived the severity of their injuries, the mine's owner was arrested. 9th December 2011
England 4 deaths in 18 months at UK Coal Mining Ltd An HSE mining inspector has described as 'shocking' the loss of 4 lives in preventable industrial accidents over an 18-month period. The safety failings permitted the 4 separate incidents to occur at 2 collieries in Nottinghamshire and the East Midlands. UK Coal Mining Ltd of Harworth, Notts, pleaded guilty to all 7 breaches of health and safety legislation involved: 4 breaches of S.2(1) and 3 breaches of S.3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in connection with the deaths. UK Coal was ordered to pay a fine of £112,500 and £187,500 costs for each fatality, totalling £1.2m. 15th December 2011
China Lift crash at Jiangxi mine kills 6 workers Six miners died when a lift fell at the privately owned Xinshan coal mine in Ouli town in Xinyu, 1 miner on the lift survived the accident and is listed in stable condition in hospital. 1st December 2011
November 2011
England Worker dies at Northumberland quarry The HSE has been advised of a fatal accident which occurred at the weekend at Longhoughton Quarry, near Alnwick, Northumberland, where a 58-year old worker operating excavating machinery was found drowned in a flooded excavation.21st November 2011
China Yunnan gas incident kills 20 miners, another 23 trapped A gas incident on Thursday at the Sizhuang Coal Mine in Qujing, Yunnan, has left at least 20 miners dead, an intensive rescue effort was ongoing throughout the day to reach a further 23 trapped miners. Initially it was believed to have been a gas explosion Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com but this was subsequently revised to a leak or excessive accumulation of gas. 11th November 2011
USA 3rd Kentucky mining death in 10 days The 7th Kentucky mining death of the year has occurred, on this occasion at the Hubble Mining Company's No.9 pit in Letcher County, East Kentucky, where a 47-year old foreman died after being struck by equipment. This was the 3rd state mining fatality in 10 days after 2 workers died in a West Kentucky mine transport accident. 9th November 2011
Canada Worker drawn into gravel pit conveyor A 31-year old Alberta quarry worker was killed in an accident at Surmont Sand and Gravel quarry 30 miles south of Fort McMurray when hisarm became caught in conveyor system rollers and he was drawn into the equipment as he tried to remove excess gravel from the conveyor. 9th November 2011
USA Transport fatality at Montana precious metals mine The Mine Safety & Health Administration is investigating a fatal transport accident at the Stillwater Mine near Nye, Montana, where a lead equipment operator driving a lorry lost control of it and ran into a ditch 400 metres underground. A rock bolt struck his neck, inflicting fatal injury. 2nd November 2011
Wales Miners trapped at drift mine Three miners were trapped for around 1 hour early yesterday at the Aberpergwm mine in south Wales before being freed by a mine rescue team following a collapse. Two of the miners were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. 4th November 2011
October 2011
China 7 dead, 11 missing in Jiaozuo mine explosion A gas explosion early on Thursday at the Jiulishan coal mine of the Henan Coal & Chemical Industry Group in Jiaozuo has killed 7 miners and left 11 others missing. Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
Ventilation equipment and heavy machinery have been brought in to counter the prevailing high gas concentration and coal ore which requires dredging. 28th October 2011
Germany Saxony quarry worker buried under gravel A 24-year old quarry worker has died after becoming buried under a substantial mount of gravel at the quarry in Ossling, Bautzen, it remained unclear whether he had sunk into it or gravel had fallen on him. 21st October 2011
China 8 dead, 5 missing in mine explosion Eight miners died and a major search and rescue operation was undertaken for 5 other miners missing in a gas explosion at a coal mine in Dashu, Chongqing. Of the 16 miners underground at the time of the accident only 3 achieved a safe exit. 19th October 2011
Wales Neath Valley miner injured A 48-year old miner was admitted to University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff with suspected spinal and pelvic injuries after being struck by falling rock while working a mile underground at the Unity mine in Cwmgwrach.17th October 2011
Austria Quarry worker lifted in shovel sustains crush injury A Voralberg quarry worker was hospitalised in Bregenz yesterday with crush injuries after becoming pinned between a conveyor belt system for crushing rocks and an excavator shovel on which a colleague was hoisting him to access the conveyor for maintenance work. 11th October 2011
England Teenager killed at old quarry A 17-year old worker has died after receiving a shock when the mobile elevating work platform he was on contacted overhead power cables. The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon at the disused quarry in Shilton Lane, Brize Norton, Oxfordshire. 17th October 2011
Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
Germany Workers injured in refinery fire and quarry conveyor accidents A 20-year old worker was admitted to a specialist burns unit in Bochum after an accident on Tuesday at the BP Emsland refinery in the Holthausen port area of Lingen when an explosion occurred during maintenance work in the distillation unit. At a quarry in Rinteln, Lower Saxony, a worker's hand became trapped in a conveyor belt 15 metres above ground. He lost a lot of blood and his rescue was difficult. He was listed in life-threatening condition in hospital in Hanover last night. 5th October 2011
September 2011
England Miner killed, another rescued in roof fall at Yorks pit A roof fall at UK Coal's Kellingley Colliery near Knottingley killed 1 miner and left another injured. Both miners were believed to have been trapped to the waist, but the surviving miner had been trapped by the leg by the fallen debris. The colliery has two 800-metre deep shafts, 1 used by miners and the other for the transport of coal. The last fatal accident at the colliery involved equipment 3 years ago.28th September 2011
South Africa Fall of ground fatality at First Uranium mine A fall of ground accident on No 50 level at the First Uranium mine at Ezulwini led to the death of a drill operator, the 4th fatal accident at the mine in the last year. 15th September 2011
Wales Miners trapped in flooded Swansea drift mine Divers and specialist rescue teams were striving last night to reach 4 miners trapped 90 metres underground in the flooded Gleision Colliery, a drift mine in Pontardawe in the Swansea Valley, 3 others managed to get out but 1 was listed in critical condition. As water was being pumped out, oxygen was being introduced through a parallel tunnel. UPDATE. Sadly, by Friday evening all 4 miners' bodies were recovered dead from the mine. 17th September 2011
Ukraine 3 trapped in Donetsk mine Three Donetsk miners were trapped following a fall of rock 477 metres underground at the Poltavskaya mine, 97 others managed to reach safety. 9th September 2011 Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
August 2011
China 26 miners still trapped in flooded pit Hopes were beginning to fade yesterday of rescuing 26 miners trapped in a flooded pit of the Hengtai Coal Mining Company in Boli county, Heilongjiang. The mine had been closed for 4 years but work resumed there illegally last week. The miners mistakenly drilled into an adjacent flooded shaft but 19 of them managed to reach safety. 26th August 2011
South Africa Miner killed at Tau Lekoa Gold Mine A seismic event measuring 2.6 on the Richter Scale led to a fall of ground early on Wednesday at the Tau Lekoa Gold Mine of Village Main Reef, an accident which claimed the life of a miner. 25th August 2011
Kazakhstan 2 killed in Karaganda mine explosion A gas explosion during sinking work has killed an engineer and machine operator at the Kuzembayev mine of Arselor Mittal Temirtau in Saran, Karaganda. Two other workers at the locus managed to move to safety. 22nd August 2011
Ukraine Rock fall traps Donetsk miners A fall of top rock in a blind drift yesterday has trapped 2 miners at the Stakhanov coal mine in Dymytrov in the Donetsk region, 4 rescue teams were attending the accident. 19th August 2011
Australia Mechanic killed at WA iron ore mine A 27-year old mechanic has died in an accident at the Brockman 2 iron ore mine of Rio Tinto in Western Australia's Pilbara region where he became trapped in machinery while replacing a hydraulic cylinder on a lorry. 18th August 2011
South Africa Gold miner killed in seismic event A miner was killed and another injured in a fall of ground accident following a seismic event at the Mponeng mine of AngloGold Ashanti. 12th August 2011 Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
Vietnam Explosion in tent kills gold miner A gold miner died at the Bai Muoi mine of Phuoc Minh Ltd in Quang Nam when his tent exploded, it was unclear why explosives were therein. 3rd August 2011
Ukraine Dozens killed in 2 mining accidents Thirty seven miners died in 2 separate accidents at Ukrainian mines, the bodies of some of those listed missing were recovered yesterday. At the Bazhanov mine in Makeyevka, 15 miners were trapped when a 70-metre tall lift collapsed, 11 were killed and 4 were rescued. An explosion occurred at a depth of 915 metres in the Sukhodolskaya-Vostochnaya mine in Lugansk which killed 26 miners. Two were rescued but were listed in critical condition. 1st August 2011
Ukraine Methane explosion at Lugansk mine Twenty six miners were injured with 5 listed in critical condition in hospital following a methane gas explosion during work to dismantle equipment at the Krasnokutskaya mine in Lugansk. 5th August 2011
July 2011
USA Kentucky miner dies in crush accident A crush accident has claimed the life of a Kentucky miner who became pinned between a track locomotive he was operating and a beam at the Voyager No 7 mine of the Martin County Coal Company in Pilgrim, the 3rd Kentucky mining death of 2011. 13th July 2011
June 2011
Canada Miners buried under unstable waste Two miners were buried alive in a "run of muck" accident at the Stobie copper-nickel mine of Vale in Sudbury, Ontario. They were working on an ore pass 1,000 metres underground when the waste became loose and overwhelmed them. 10th June 2011
Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
USA Alaskan gold mine fatality A mill operator died in a fall accident in the primary crusher area at the Fort Knox gold mine of Kinross Inc, a mine operated by Fairbanks Gold Mining Inc 25 miles northeast of Fairbanks. 6th June 2011
Philippines Dynamite explosion kills 2 in Agusan del Norte mine A mine owner and an explosives subcontractor have been killed in an explosion while setting dynamite charges at a mine in Rosi, Sitio Parada, Cabadbaran City. More than 20 holes had been filled and 11 detonations had taken place but the fatal explosion occurred as a 2-metre long fuse was being cut. Several miners survived the accident. 9th June 2011
China 3 maintenance workers killed at Hunan mine A roof collapsed at the Dingli coal mine in Jiahe County, Hunan, killing 3 maintenance workers who were working at the roof face, the cause of the accident was unclear. 1st June 2011
Turkey Fatal accident at Sirnak mine Two miners are recovering in Sirnak State Hospital after an explosion and fall of ground accident at the Bereketli Coal Mining Company mine in Toptepe in Sirnak, a colleague's body was recovered from the locus. 1st June 2011
Gaza More than 150 people have died in smuggling tunnels A 22-year old male died on Monday in the collapse of a contraband tunnel in Rafah, more than 150 people have died in such accidents involving structural collapse or electrocution in the tunnels over the last 5 years. 7th June 2011
Australia Falling coal rib kills NSW miner A large section of coal fell and killed a 52-year old miner at the Chain Valley Mine of LakeCoal Pty Ltd in New South Wales.
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He was operating machinery by remote control when the section of coal broke away from the wall just behind where he was standing. 6th June 2011
May 2011
Gaza 2 killed this week in tunnel accidents A man was electrocuted yesterday in an accident in an underground tunnel near Al- Barazil, south Gaza. Earlier in the week another person died in an accident involving a tractor close to the Rafah tunnel. 13th May 2011
Sweden Fatal accident at Stockholm rail tunnel site The Transport Agency has launched an investigation into a fatal crush accident which occurred yesterday at a new train tunnel site in Stockholm where a worker died after becoming pinned under a drilling rig which overturned as he was moving it. 11th May 2011
China Confined space accident at Shenzhen subway site Two construction workers died in a confined space accident on Sunday at the Daxin Station construction site in Shenzhen where the Shenzhen Water Project Engineering Company Ltd is involved in the subway extension site. Methane gas from sewage appears the likeliest cause of death, 4 other workers were also injured. 9th May 2011
Mexico 14 miners trapped after gas explosion at Coahuila pit Fourteen miners were trapped following a methane gas explosion yesterday at a BINSA coal mine in San Juan de Sabinas in Coahuila. A 15-year old worker who was nearer the entrance was rescued with serious injuries, possibly with the potential amputation of both arms. It was thought he would be transferred to a specialist hospital unit in Monterrey. High accumulations of gas were making it difficult to launch an immediate rescue of the miners, possibly trapped as deep as 100 metres underground. 4th May 2011
England Quarry ignored Prohibition Notice The proprietor of Freemac Aggregates, who operate a quarry at Baston, Lincolnshire, Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com failed to comply with a Prohibition Notice relating to a poorly maintained and inadequately guarded sand and gravel plant and has been prosecuted. He received the notice in June 2009, but when an inspector revisited 2 months later the plant was still in use and guarding that had been fitted to comply with the Notice had been removed. The proprietor was in breach of r.11(1)(a) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and was fined £7,500 plus costs of £3,437. 12th May 2011
April 2011
UAE 2 youths drown in flooded quarry Two youths aged 14 and 15 drowned in a flooded quarry pit at Basira al Jabaliya near the Fujairah mountains. Apart from the hazard of rainwater accumulation in the quarried pits, fine tilth sand poses a subsidence risk for locals venturing into the quarry area. 28th April 2011
China Miners recovered from flooded pit On Tuesday afternoon the bodies of 8 miners were recovered from the flooded pit of the Xiao'aozi Coal Mine in Liupanshui, Panxian County, Guizhou. Thirty seven miners managed to escape to safety from the accident 2 days ago, the cause of which remains under investigation. 27th April 2011
Zambia Copper mine transport accident A contract worker of Avantech has died in an accident at the Lumwana copper mine of Equinox Minerals, 40 miles west of Solwezi, where he was struck by an item of plant. 27th April 2011
USA Fatal accident at Missouri limestone mine An employee of East Fairfield Coal Company has been killed after being struck on the head by falling rock at the Subtropolis Limestone Mine in Springfield. 26th April 2011
Canada Fatal accident at Labrador ore mine A contract worker died in an accident at the Rio Tinto Iron Ore Company site in Labrador City. The accident is under investigation, special equipment was deployed to Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com recover the worker's body at height.He was working on a power line and it may have been an electrocution accident. 21st April 2011
Indonesia Roof collapse at Papua mineral mine The Energy and Mineral resources Ministry is investigating an accident at the PT Freeport Indonesia copper and gold mine in Papua where a miner died and another is missing following a roof collapse, an accident which may have been linked to blasting operations. 20th April 2011
USA Worker missing in Idaho mine tunnel A tunnel collapse a mile underground at the Lucky Friday Mine in Mullan, Idaho, left a worker missing, the company deployed a remote-control digger at the weekend as part of the search and rescue effort. 18th April 2011
China Bodies recovered from Gansu mine On Monday the bodies of 6 miners were recovered at the Hetaoyu Coal Mine under construction in Zhengning County, Gansu. A large container laden with 6 tonnes of rock fell 500 metres down a shaft on top of them when a cable failed, one worker survived the accident. It has taken several days to pump water from the shaft and complete the recovery. 12th April 2011
West Bank Teenage quarry worker killed An 18-year old quarry worker died in Al-Ahli Hospital, Hebron, after being struck by falling rock at a stone quarry in Beit Fajjar, 5 miles south of Bethlehem. 6th April 2011
South Africa 2 gold miners killed in seismic event A seismic event measuring 2.4 on the Richter scale has killed 2 miners 2,600 metres underground at the Masakhane shaft of the Gold Fields KDC mine near Carletonville. 8th April 2011
Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
March 2011
Serbia Double fatality at manganese mine Two miners aged 51 and 54 were killed when a structural collapse occurred at the Sumadija Cacak manganese mine in Cacak, central Serbia. 24th March 2011
Zambia 5 killed in copper mine accidents A fall of ground accident at the new East Mill site of the Nchanga Konkola copper mine of Vedanta Resources killed 4 workers of contractor ZCon. In a separate incident at the Cmabishi copper mine last week a miner was killed in a vehicle accident 150 metres below the surface. 28th March 2011
Gaza Man killed by barrel in Gaza tunnel A man died in Abu Yousif Al-Najjar Hospital, Rafah, from head injuries sustained in an accident when a barrel fell on his head in a tunnel.3rd March 2011
England Illness may have led to guard's death at coal mine A Northumberland coroner returned a verdict of accidental death in the case of a security guard of RT Executive Services who fell and drowned in a stream at the UK Coal's Maidens Hall open-caste site at Chevington. Comments by colleagues appeared to indicate that the victim may have been unwell prior to the accident. 3rd March 2011
February 2011
USA Utah quarry worker killed in conveyor accident A Utah quarry worker was found dead yesterday, trapped under a large industrial magnet on a conveyor belt taking rock to be crushed at the crushing and sampling unit of Bolinder Resources Facility at Stansbury Island, Great Salt Lake. The un-witnessed accident saw his body travel 8 metres along the conveyor belt. 25th February 2011
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South Africa Explosion accident at gold mine A worker died and another was badly injured yesterday in an accident involving explosive material at No 7 shaft of Simmer & Jack's Buffelsfontein gold mine. 18th February 2011
Turkey Subsidence accident at mine One person died and 4 others were missing when ground collapsed yesterday at a coal production area for the Afsin-Elbiston Coal Power plant in Kahramanmaras, the dead person is believed to have been operating an excavator, the others were in a minibus. 11th February 2011
Indonesia Worker dies in sand mine subsidence An accident at a quarry in Dadang, 12 miles west of Jakarta, led to the death of a worker at a sand mine there when heavy rain caused subsidence. 11th February 2011
Armenia Gold miner killed A 34-year old miner was killed yesterday in an accident at the Shahumian mine of Deno Gold Mining in Syunik, it was unknown whether the accident involved machinery or a fall of ground. 9th February 2011
Rep Ireland Tipperary zinc mine explosion A worker in his 40's was killed and another was injured in an explosion at the Lisheen Mine which works zinc between Moyne and Templetuohy, county Tipperary. The injured worker is listed in satisfactory condition in Cork University Hospital. 4th February 2011
January 2011
Colombia Methane explosion at Sardinata mine A methane gas explosion killed 4 miners, injured 4 others and left 13 trapped at the La Preciosa coal mine of Sardinata in San Roque, northwest Colombia. Four years ago 31 miners died in a similar accident there. 27th January 2011 Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
Sweden Contractor falls 7 metres at iron ore mine A 20-year old contract worker has been hospitalised in Gallivare with serious injuries following a 7-metre fall from a gantry at the KAI iron ore mine of LKAB(Luossavaara- Kiiranavaara) in Kiruna. 27th January 2011
South Africa 9 mining deaths already in 2011 Mining fatalities for this year reached 9 this week with the death of a miner in a fall of ground at the Samancor Millsell Chrome mine in Rustenburg, and the death of a surveyor trying to clear a blockage in an ore-pass shaft at Anglo Platinum's Thembalani 1 mine. 26th January 2011
India Mine explosives discharge prematurely A 21-year old miner died and 2 others were injured when explosive charges placed in drilled holes exploded prematurely in the Mine-1 area at the Neyveli Lignite Corporation's opencast mine in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu. 25th January 2011
England Mine worker killed in accident A 58-year old miner has died following an incident on Tuesday at the National Coalmining Museum at the former Caphouse Colliery in Overton, Yorkshire. Reports state he was working on plant underground at the time and was employed by a contractor. 27th January 2011
England Fatal accident in Mansfield A man in his 50's has died at the scene of an industrial accident at the Forest Town, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, premises of Rettenmaier UK (Manufacturing) Inc. on the Crown Farm Industrial Estate on Friday afternoon. 24th January 2011
South Africa 6th mining death of 2011 In the first 3 weeks of this year 6 mining deaths have been reported. This week a worker died in a 70-metre fall in a shaft at Gold Fields Ltd's South Deep mine and a winch operator's body was recovered from under rock on Thursday at Harmony's Bambanani
Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com mine where a fall of ground occurred 2,913 metres underground in a stope panel. 20th January 2011
Canada Rescue at Saskatchewan gold mine A gold mine worker was rescued, apparently uninjured, after being trapped for 8 hours between rock and a machine in the crushing room at the Jolu gold mine, 450 miles north of Regina. 20th January 2011
Turkey Miners' bodies recovered from deep well A team of Chinese mining specialists have recovered the bodies of the last 2 Turkish miners missing since an explosion last May at the Karadon mine in Zonguldak. The bodies were in a 735-metre deep well filled with water. 19th January 2011
USA Worker injured at anthracite mine An industrial accident was reported on Monday morning at a Reading Anthracite Company strip mine in Pennsylvania, where a worker became trapped under heavy machinery. 18th January 2011
India Mining work cave-in A cave-in during roof work has killed a contract worker and left 2 others in critical condition at a mine in Kumbharkhani, Maharashtra. The contractors had just begun the work at the Western Coal mine when a large boulder came down on theworkers. 14th January 2011
South Africa Fatal accident at Limpopo platinum mine Operations were suspended yesterday at Northam Platinum's Zondereinde mine in Limpopo Province pending investigation of a worker's death 1,480 metres underground in a tramming accident. 11th January 2011
Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
December 2010
Colombia Fatal accident at Antioquia mine A maintenance worker died in hospital in Medellin from injuries sustained in an accident at the San Fernando coal mine in Amaga where a wagon derailed and struck a group of workers, 3 of whom were also hospitalised with fractures. 29th December 2010
USA Pennsylvania worker's body recovered from quarry Divers have recovered the body of a 61-year old worker who fell from a ledge into the water at Swatara quarry in Pennsylvania. 31st December 2010
USA Worker's body recovered at Florida mine A recovery operation was ongoing yesterday at the Mazak Mine in Bushnell, Florida, to retrieve the body of a missing worker who fell into a flooded pit, probably when subsidence occurred at the edge of the pit during blasting at the mine. The missing man may have been driving equipment at the time. 25th December 2010
Australia Workshop fatality at WA mine A contract worker of Ausdrill Mining Services has been killed in an accident during maintenance in a workshop at the Cloudbreak Mine of Fortescue Metals Group Ltd in Pilbara, Western Australia. 25th December 2010
Czech Republic Fatal accident at Darkov mine A miner has died in an accident 800 metres underground at OKD's Darkov mine at Site 9 kveten. OKD is a subsidiary of New World Resources, this was the 3rd fatality of the year at the OKD mine. 21st December 2010
Turkey Contractors strive to recover missing miners Ten Chinese workers of Sino Steel Industry Trading Group have begun work this week in the recovery of 2 bodies still missing from a gas explosion in May at the Karadon
Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
Mine in Zonguldak. Thirty miners died in the accident at the mine owned by TTK of China, 28 were initially recovered from the 735m-deep mine. The missing miners are believed to have fallen into a well, the mine is flooded with water, and recovery work is expected to last 6 weeks. 15th December 2010
China 7 trapped in flooded Hunan mine A rescue effort was ongoing yesterday to reach 7 miners trapped by flooding in the Yide coal mine in Xiangtan county, Hunan. The flooding occurred at a depth of 85 metres. Although 1,200 tonnes of water were being pumped out hourly yesterday, rescuers were unable to announce significant progress. 2nd December 2010
South Africa Fatal accident at manganese mine A worker has died in an accident at BHP Billiton's Wessels manganese mine near Hotazel, North Cape, the mine is an underground operation 300 metres below the surface. 1st December 2010
Australia Tasmanian miner injured A miner was admitted to Launceston General Hospital on Wednesday after being injured when rock fell from the roof of the Cornwall Coal mine in northeast Tasmania. At the time of the accident a Workplace Standards inspector was on the premises on a routine visit and was able to launch an immediate investigation. 2nd December 2010
November 2010
Mexico Fatal accident at Zacatecas mine A miner died at the Capstone Mining Corporation's Cozamin mine in Zacatecas where he became trapped in equipment during a rock fall, it took 2 days to recover his body. 29th November 2010
Australia Excavator operator killed in Victoria sand quarry An excavator operator was crushed to death in an accident at a sand quarry in Nyora,
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South Gippsland, Victoria. It was not immediately clear whether the vehicle had overturned or a face of the quarry had collapsed on it. 23rd November 2010
China Miners trapped in separate pit accidents More than 30 miners were trapped in 2 separate accidents; 28 were trapped at the Batian coal mine in Sichuan and 13 managed to escape to safety; while 3 miners were trapped in the flooded Yumbiao iron ore mine in Guangxi Zhuang where a rescue operation was still ongoing late on Sunday to free the trapped men, 2 others did make it to safety.22nd November 2010
Cambodia 14 chilli farmers killed in land mine explosion Fourteen agricultural workers and family members who had been working at a chilli farm in Kampong Kul died when their tractor struck a land mine on an abandoned road in the Banan district of Battamburg, 150 miles northwest of Phnom Penh. The road was abandoned in the 80's after anti-tank mines were seeded there during the civil war. 18th November 2010
South Africa Fatal accidents at 2 mines A drill operator was killed in a rock fall at Gold Field Ltd's Driefontein mine; elsewhere, a worker was killed in a locomotive accident at the Buffelsfontein mine of Simmer & Jack Mines Ltd. 18th November 2010
Chile Double fatality at illegal copper mine Two miners were killed in an explosion at the Los Reyes copper mine of Sociedad Legal Compania Minera Del Sur, 30 miles north of Copiapo, another miner was hospitalised in the Hospital San Jose del Carmen de Copiapo with a serious eye injury. Apparent premature ignition of the explosives appeared to cause the accident, a Mexican national who leased the mine without license from Sernageomin(Servicio Nacional de Geologia y Mineria) had absconded. 10th November 2010
Russia Another miner's body recovered at Raspadkaya site The body of another miner killed in an accident at the Raspadkaya coal mine in Kemerovo in May was found on Saturday, a further 16 miners are still missing. Work is Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com ongoing 400 metres underground where water ingress is still considerable. 8th November 2010
October 2010
USA Transport fatality in Kentucky mine A 39-year old miner died after being struck by a shuttle car at the River Valley Coal Mine of Alliance Resource Partners in West Kentucky yesterday, the 6th mining fatality in Kentucky this year. 29th October 2010
China 12 miners drown in flooded pit Flood ingress has claimed the lives of 12 miners at the Dapo Mine being operated illegally since 20th August in Guizhou. Around 50 miners were underground when the accident occurred. 29th October 2010
South Africa Fatal accident at platinum mine A mine worker was killed on Wednesday at the Bafokeng Rasimone platinum mine, Rustenburg, in an accident involving a winch. 28th October 2010
Turkey 3 miners killed in separate accidents Three miners have died in separate accidents in the last 24 hours. At a chrome mine in the Orhanelli district of Bursa a cable drawing a wagon with 4 miners failed and it fell back 70 metres. Two miners managed to leap to safety but 2 others were killed. At a coal mine in Eregli, Zonguldak, a 54-year old miner was killed in a rock slide. 28th October 2010
China 21 killed, 17 trapped in Henan mine Seventeen miners are trapped and 21 died in an explosion on Saturday at the Pingyu Coal & Electricity Company's mine in Yuzhou, Henan. 17th October 201
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Ecuador Rescue effort continues at Portovelo gold mine Two bodies were recovered on Monday from the Casa Negra gold mine of Minesadco in Portovelo, 250 miles southeast of Quito, where a tunnel collapsed 150 metres underground at the 5th level of the mine, 2 other miners are still missing. Timber and rock have been slowing the rescue effort, no contact has been made with the missing miners but rescuers are working with hope and "neque"(vigour) as one miner reported to the media. 19th October 2010
South Africa Gold miners killed in locomotive accidents Two miners have been killed in separate accidents after being struck by locomotives; the first occurred at the Simmer and Jack mine in Tau Lekoa, the other at Harmony Gold's Tshepong mine in Free State province. 6th October2010
Russia Missing Raspadskaya miners recovered The bodies of 6 miners killed in a methane gas explosion on 9th May were found this week in the Raspadskaya mine in Kemerovo. Seventy four miners died in the accident and 23 were listed missing, 17 have yet to be found. 6th October2010
September 2010
South Africa Double fatality at gold mine Harmony Gold Mining has reported that the body of one of the 2 miners missing in an earth tremor at the Bambanani mine was recovered on Tuesday. 29th September 2010
India Maharashtra mine accident A mine worker was killed and 2 others were injured when a roof collapsed at the Silewara mine of Western Coalfields Ltd in Maharashtra. 28th September 201
Turkey 2 killed in mine collapse A fall of ground has killed 2 mine workers in Balikesir, a miner who survived is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries in Kesput State Hospital. 24th September 2010
Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
Canada Fatal accident at Newfoundland gravel pit A 45-year old worker has been found dead under a rock crusher in a gravel pit near Sunnyside, Newfoundland and Labrador. He was performing maintenance work and is believed to have become trapped in its moving parts. 1st September 2010
August 2010
Venezuela Tunnel collapse kills illegal gold miners At least 7 people died when a tunnel collapsed during digging by illegal miners at the abandoned Tami gold mine formerly operated by Crystellex of Toronto. The mine, 10 miles from El Callao in Bolivar state, is in an area now overseen by Aurifera CVG Minerven. 26th August 2010
Chile Miners alive after 17 days underground President Sebastian Pinera announced yesterday that all 33 miners trapped 700 metres underground for 17 days at the San Esteban gold mine near Copiapo (see story 9th August) are alive after contact was made with them at the weekend. Further equipment is being imported to drill a new rescue tunnel but the rescue may yet take a couple of weeks. 23rd August 2010
South Africa Fatal accident at Rowland mine A Lonmin's female locomotive operator was found dead on Thursday under a locomotive at the ventilation door on the Rowland mine near Rustenburg, the cause of the accident was unknown. 20th August 2010
USA Nevada miners' deaths investigated The US Mine Safety and Health Administration is investigating the deaths of 2 miners at the Meikle gold mine operated by Barrick in Elko County, Nevada. They were descending in a lift cage when a pressure surge on the hoist drum occurred and vertical pipe broke off from the shaft wall and struck the cage. 20th August 2010
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Chile Rescuers strive to reach trapped miners The rescue operation was ongoing through yesterday to reach 33 miners trapped 400 metres underground for 3 days at the San Esteban copper and gold mine near Copiapo, 500 miles north of Santiago. The entrance to the mine collapsed and attempts to reach the trapped workers through a ventilation shaft was abandoned when it collapsed at the weekend. There is a refuge with limited supplies of oxygen and nourishment but no contact had been established with the trapped men to know if they could reach it.9th August 2010
Australia Worker falls down gold mine shaft The Department of Mines and Petroleum is investigating a fatal accident at a Western Australia gold mine in Norseman where a worker has died in a 15-metre fall down an emergency shaft. 6th August 2010
China 21 dead, 12 trapped in mining accidents In 2 separate accidents 21 miners have died and 12 were trapped underground. In Renhuai 12 miners died and 5 were trapped following a gas explosion at the private Mingyang coal mine; at Sanyuandong coal mine in Denfeng, Henan, a gas leakage has killed 9 and trapped 7 others, 127 miners were underground at the time. High gas levels are restricting the rescue operation, meanwhile the colliery manager has been dismissed and the chief engineer suspended. 4th August 2010
Scotland Death at quarry On 21st November 2008, a 58-year old plant fitter employed by Leiths Scotland Ltd was working beneath a digger at Parkmore Quarry, Dufftown, Aberlour, when it rolled backwards, inflicting fatal injuries. The vehicle was on a ramp but because the rear wheels were inadequately secured it rolled off the ramp and on to his chest. Although experienced, he had not undertaken this task before. An HSE official commented: "He should have received adequate information, training and supervision from his employers, which Leiths did not provide. It is wholly unacceptable his employers left him unsupervised to devise his own means of working on such a risky repair job." The Aberdeen company was fined £96,000. 11th August 2010
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July 2010
England Quarry operator fined On 30th October 2009, a trainee wheel loader operator was transporting sand from a stockpile at North Cave Quarry operated by Humberside Aggregates and Excavations Ltd when the access ramp edge he was driving on gave way. The machine overturned and plunged almost 5 metres because there were no edge protection barriers in place. The trainee was injured and was hospitalised for 2 days. The company was fined £30,000 plus £10,590 in costs for breaching the Quarries Regulations 1999. 29th July 2010
Russia Methane explosion kills Kemorovo miner A methane gas explosion in the Krasnogorskaya coal mine near Kemorovo left 1 miner dead and 2 with serious burns injuries, there were 66 underground when the explosion occurred. 26th July 2010
China 33 killed in mine fire and shipyard explosion A coal mine fire and a shipyard explosion killed at least 33 workers at the weekend. The electric cable fire occurred at the Xiaonangou mine in Sangshuping township in Hancheng, Shaanxi, where 28 died. The explosion at the Tongfang Jiangxin Shipbuilding yard in Hukou killed 5 painters of subcontractor Jingcheng Industrial Company. 19th July 2010
USA Transport accident at Illinois mine The Mine Safety and Health Administration imposed a temporary closure order at the Willow Lake mine of Peabody Energy in south Illinois pending investigation of a fatal accident in which a worker died after being struck by a shuttle car some 4 miles underground. 13th July 2010
Turkey Rescuers strive to reach trapped miners A major rescue operation was ongoing yesterday at the Kale private coal mine in Kesan, Edirne, where 3 miners were trapped after a cave-in 1,020 metres underground. Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
Water was being pumped in the extinguish flames and the miners were instructed to move to a safer area where additional air was being introduced. Rescuers were optimistic of asuccessful outcome. 9th July 2010
Turkey Fatal accident at Black Sea quarry A dynamite explosion at a stone quarry in Guvenlik, north Turkey, triggered an accidental rock fall in a separate area which killed one worker and injured 2 others on Tuesday. 14th July 2010
South Africa 7 killed at gold and platinum mines Seven miners have died in 3 separate accidents in 24 hours. A gold miner died at the Anglo Gold Ashanti mine at Tau Lekoa in Northwest province; 5 died in a fall of ground at the Marikana mine of Aquarius Platinum in Rustenburg; and a miner was also killed in a fall of ground at an Impala Platinum mine. 9th July 2010
June 2010
Ghana Scores trapped in collapsed former gold mine Scores of people are trapped and feared dead at the collapsed former gold mine at Dunkwa-on-Offin, 125 miles from Accra, police have arrested a man who allegedly hired 136 workers, including women and children, to work the abandoned mine. Heavy rains at the weekend contributed to the collapse, the lack of earthmoving equipment has been protracting the rescue operation. 30th June 2010
India 2 miners killed when man rider cable snaps A failed cable on a worker transportation car has led to the deaths of 2 miners at the GDK(10A) mine of Singareni Collieries in Godavarikhani. The car was carrying 40 miners when the steel cable snapped 350 metres underground, of the 25 injured one worker is listed in critical condition after surgery to remove an iron rod on which he became impaled. 30th June 2010
USA Worker pulled into drill at Alaskan gold mine A worker of AK Drilling Inc of Montana was killed when his clothing snagged and he was Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com drawn into an industrial drill at the International Tower Hill Mines gold mine site near Livengood, Alaska. 24th June 201
USA Transport accident at Arizona copper mine A mechanic died and his colleague was severely injured when their vehicle was struck by a large ore transporter at Asarco's Ray copper mine, 20 miles south of Superior, Arizona. 24th June 2010.
China Powder magazine explosion leaves 47 Henan miners dead An explosion in a powder magazine at Xingdong No 2 coal mine in Weidong, Pingdingshan city, left 47 miners dead, mostly from carbon monoxide poisoning. Although 26 managed to escape to safety it was unclear if others had been trapped. The privately owned mine's operating license expired 2 weeks ago, police have detained the proprietor. 22nd June 201
South Africa Gold mine fatality A rock fall 2,100 metres underground led to the death of a miner at Harmony's Phakisa gold mine in the Free State. 22nd June 2010.
South Africa Rockfall accident at Free State gold mine The Department of Mineral Resources is investigating a fatal accident at the Harmony Gold mine in Tshepong where a miner died in a rockfall 1,843 metres underground. 15th June 2010
Ukraine Iron ore pit subsidence A worker died in an accident at the weekend when his vehicle fell into a large pit at the Ordzhonikidze iron ore mine of Metinvest in Kryvy Rih where an underground pit collapse led to topographical subsidence. 14th June 2010
Pakistan Miner killed in gas explosion A gas explosion which caused a substantial pit collapse killed a miner and injured 5 others at a Marwar coal mine, 15 miles from Quetta. 9th June 2010 Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
England Incident at Somerset quarry It is reported that an explosion involving an HGV carrying gas cylinders has injured 2 men working on LPG tanks at Stancombe Quarry, Flax Bourton, yesterday afternoon. Both persons are being treated for first and third degree upper body burns. 15th June 2010
Scotland Soldier killed in quarry fall A man in his 30's has died in a 10-metre fall at a quarry in Collieston, Angus, while participating in a climbing exercise with the army on Friday afternoon. 1st June 2010
May 2010
USA Fatal accident at Utah uranium mine The US Mine Safety and Health Administration will be investigating a fatal accident which occurred on Wednesday at the Pandora uranium mine of the Denison Mine Corporation at La Sal, Utah, where a worker of Reliance Resources was killed by falling rock. 27th May 2010
Turkey Miner killed in chrome mine roof collapse A roof collapse occurred on Tuesday at a chrome mine in the Kusculu area of Hekimham in Malatya, eastern Turkey, killing a miner. 26th May 2010
China 10 miners killed in Shanxi mine explosion Ten miners were killed and one is missing following a gas explosion at the Chentong Coal Industry Company's mine in Shanxi. Of the 41 miners underground, 30 were either rescued or escaped to safety. 20th May 2010
Sweden Lift accident kills 2 miners At least 2 people are feared dead when a lift fell down a shaft on Tuesday at the LKAB (Luosavaara-Kiirunavaara Aktiebolag) Vitaforsgruvan coal mine in Malmberget. 19th May 201
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Turkey 32 miners trapped after explosion An explosion at a Turkish Anthracite Coal Foundation mine in Karadon, Zonguldak, left 32 miners trapped and 11 injured on Monday. Initial speculation suggested firedamp, or a possible electrical malfunction as communications with the trapped miners was impossible after the explosion. Rescue teams were using an adjacent shaft to reach the trapped men. 18th May 2010
Russia Methane explosions kill 12 miners, leave 83 trapped Explosions in the Raspadskaya coal mine in Mezhdurechensk, Kemerovo, have left at least 12 people dead and 83(64 miners and 19 rescuers) trapped. Around 360 miners were underground in the 500-metre deep mine when the first explosion, probably methane, occurred; a secondary explosion destroyed the air supply system and much of the above-ground structure and left rescuers trapped with the miners. Smoke-logging and the poor quality air saw the rescue effort temporarily suspended on Sunday. 10th May 2010
India CO incident kills 4 miners, 6 trapped Four miners have died and 6 were trapped in an explosion and carbon monoxide incident at the Anjani Hill mine of South Eastern Coal Fields Ltd in Chirmiri, Chhattisgarh, as many as 30 others were injured. 7th May 2010
South Africa Six miners killed in separate accidents Six miners have died at different locations this week. Two died yesterday and 2 others were admitted to hospital in critical condition following a rock fall during blasting at the Tweefontein Shaft of the Samancor Eastern Chrome mine in Mpumalanga; three died at the Simmer & Jack's Buffelsfontein mine in in a fall of ground accident; and one died in a rock fall in a ledging panel 1100 metres underground at Harmony's Joel gold mine. 7th May 2010
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April 2010
USA Kentucky miners killed by roof collapse Two miners were killed when a section of roof collapsed at the Dotiki mine of Alliance Coal near Providence, west Kentucky, rescuers recovered their bodies yesterday, trapped 5 miles from the entrance of the mine which has a chequered safety record. 30th April 2010
Canada Fatal accident at Yukon zinc mine A 54-year old worker died in a mine shaft collapse at the Wolverine mine of Yukon Zinc Corporation, 250 miles northeast of Whitehorse. Two mechanics and a machine operator were working there at the time of the accident. 27th April 2010
USA West Virginia mine accident The 33rd national mining death of the year occurred at the Beckley Pocahontas mine of the International Coal Group near Eccles, West Virginia, where a 28-year old worker was pinned against the coal face by a continuous mining machine. 26th April 2010
South Africa Gold miner killed A miner was struck and killed yesterday by a snatch block in a gully at the TauTona mine of AngloGold Ashanti in Carletonville, Gauteng. 23rd April 2010
Australia Driver killed in fall at nickel mine A worker driving a vehicle to transport materials died in an 18-metre fall down a shaft at BHP Billiton's Perseverance nickel mine, 550 miles northeast of Perth. 13th April 2010.
China 6 feared drowned in manganese mine pond accident A rapid issue of manganese mining residue from a retaining pond at Fengyun Manganese Company Ltd in Huayuan County, Hunan, has killed 1 worker and left 5 others missing, in all 35 workers were engaged in decommissioning the pond when the accident occurred. 12th April 2010
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India Mine roof collapse during pit prop work Two mine workers died yesterday in a roof cave-in accident at a Central Coalfield Ltd mine in Bhurkunda. They were removing timber pit props at pillar 27 to move forward along the shaft when the collapse occurred, 100 miners were underground at the time. 7th April 2010
Gaza Man killed in contraband tunnel collapse A man has died in a tunnel collapse under the Yebna refugee camp near the Salah Al- Deen Gate in Rafah, 6 other people are believed to have survived by making for the Egyptian side of the excavation. 8th April 2010
USA High methane levels restricts mine rescue Dangerously high concentrations of methane gas were restricting rescue efforts to reach 4 trapped miners at the site of the explosion at the Upper Big Branch coal mine of Massey Energy Company, 30 miles south of Charleston, West Virginia. Twenty five miners died in the explosion 1.5 miles from the pit's entrance, attempts were ongoing yesterday to drill through to reach the 4 trapped miners. 7th April 2010
March 2010
China 152 workers trapped in flooded mine pit A desperate rescue effort was underway at the weekend to reach 152 construction workers trapped in an underground flooded pit at the 180km² site of the new Wangjialing Coal Mine in Shanxi. During construction work, underground water was drilled into by accident,109 other workers managed to escape to safety. 29th March 2010
Canada Unstable load fatality at Ontario quarry A 26-year old worker was killed in an accident yesterday at the Green Valley Environmental quarry on First Line Road, Manotick, Ontario, when a load of rock and gravel being loaded on to a lorry by an excavator became unstable and fell on the cab. 26th March 2010
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South Africa Gold miner killed in rock fall A miner has died in a rock fall at the Merriespruit No.1 shaft of the Harmony Gold Mining Company Ltd.26th March 2010
Turkey Cave-in death at Black Sea mine A miner was killed and another injured on Thursday in a cave-in at the Zirve Mining private mine at Zonguldak on the Black Sea. 26th March 2010
China 11 trapped in flooded Henan iron mine A major rescue operation was underway on Monday for 11 miners trapped underground by flooding at the Shunda Mining Company's iron and metals mine in Zhumadian, Biyang County, Henan. 23rd March 2010
Canada Maximum fine levied for potash mine fatality For the first time in the province's history the maximum $300K(£194,193) fine under the Occupational Health and Safety Act has been levied against the Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan in respect of a fatal underground accident at a potash mine in Lanigan in September 2008 in which an employee was crushed by a vehicle after driving off an unmarked ledge, the company pleaded guilty to a failure to ensure the health, safety and welfare of its employees. 17th March 2010
South Africa Miner killed in train collision The collision of 2 trains at the Moab Khotsong mine of AngloGold Ashanti in the Vaal River area south of Johannesburg has left 1 miner dead, the 10th mining death of the month and the 24th of 2010. 17th March 2010
South Africa Rockfall accident at gold mine The Department of Mineral resources was advised yesterday of a fatal accident at the Evander mine of Harmony Gold Mining Company where a worker died in a rockfall 2,125 metres underground at No 8 shaft. 11th March 2010
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Gaza Contraband tunnel electrocution A man has died in a contraband tunnel in the As-Salam district of Rafah near the Egyptian border after contacting a live power source underground. 10th March 2010.
Georgia Methane explosion kills 4 miners A methane explosion on Wednesday at the Mindeli coal mine in Tkibuli, 140 miles west of Tbilisi, killed at least 4 miners, an unknown number of other miners were injured. 4th March 2010
February 2010
Turkey 13 killed in mine accident A methane gas explosion produced a structural collapse which killed 13 miners 250 metres underground at the Odakoy mine in Balikecir, some died instantly, others from severe burns, a further 6 miners are listed in critical condition. During questioning at the prosecutor's office, the mine owner became unwell, his rapidly falling blood pressure saw him hospitalised where he is being treated for critical heart failure. 25th February 2010
Gaza Rafah tunnel death The third tunnel death of the year was reported yesterday when a 21-year old man died in the collapse of a tunnel in the Al-Qassas area in Rafah on the Egyptian border, this incident follows on from the weekend electrocution which occurred in a tunnel. Wednesday's incident may be linked to an Israeli air strike late on Tuesday against smuggling tunnels in the Gaza-Egypt border area. 4th February 2010
January 2010
Russia Cave-in at Raspadskaya A roof collapse occurred on Saturday at the Raspadskaya mine in west Siberia causing the death of 1 worker there at Russia's largest coal mine. 25th January 2010
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Pakistan 10 Narwar miners killed in separate accidents More than 10 miners are feared dead in separate accidents on the Narwar coal field, 50 miles southeast of Quetta. It is thought that at least 7 miners died in a gas accident 1,200 metres underground, and a roof collapse at the Habibullah mines killed 3 miners. 15th January 2010
China Fire kills 25 Hunan miners At least 25 miners have died and 3 are missing following an underground cable fire at a private colliery in Xiangtan County, Hunan, where 43 workers escaped to safety. 7th January 2010
Dem Rep of Congo 8 feared dead at old tin mine site Eight people have died, including 5 children, following a structural collapse at an abandoned tin mine of Zaire-Etain in Manona, southeast Congo, the mine ceased production in 1995. 12th January 2010
South Africa Diamond mine workshop fatality A diamond mine worker has died in an accident involving equipment in an underground workshop at the Petra Diamonds mine in Koffiefontein. 6th January 2010
USA Montana mine fatality Mine Safety & Health Administration is investigating a fatal accident which occurred on Saturday when a worker died in the surface shop at the Signal Peak Mine, south of Roundup, Montana, work resumes at the mine today (Monday). 4th January 2010
December 2009
China Mine management arraigned over alleged illegal work Five members of senior management have been arrested following a gas explosion at Donggou Colliery in Jiexiu, Jinzhong City, where 12 miners have died. It is alleged that authorised production quotas of 300K tonnes of coal were exceeded
Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com and that miners had breached a wall between a working shaft and a disused one in which a significant density of gas had accumulated. 29th December 2009
China Crush fatality at Hong Kong quarry A worker has died and 2 others were injured when a 5-metre tall rock crushing machine collapsed during dismantling yesterday at the Anderson Road Quarry in Sau Mau Ping, Hong Kong. 24th December 2009
Ukraine 265 miners escape electrical fire An electrical malfunction led to a fire 600 metres underground at the Sukhodolska Skihidna mine of OJSC Krasnodonvuhillia(State Holding Company), all 265 miners emerged safely a couple of hours after fire crews had controlled the incident. 23rd December 2009
Turkey 19 miners killed in cave-in after dynamite explosion The authorities have indicated that a dynamite explosion, rather than methane, caused the cave-in at a 26-year old coal mine near Mustafakemalpasa, Bursa, in which 19 miners died some 250 metres underground. Recovery work has been difficult, given the narrowness of the shaft and an ensuing methane gas build-up which has required oxygen to be pumped into the atmosphere. 12th December 2009
Wales Quarry owner failed to prevent trespass At Cardiff Crown Court Tarmac Ltd, the owner of Cornelly Quarry, Bridgend, was fined £10K plus £6,930-85 in costs after pleading guilty to a breach of r.16 of The Quarries Regulations in respect of an accident there in May 2008 in which a 15-year old trespasser broke an elbow, wrist and chipped his pelvis in a 17-metre fall. Dense hedging bounding the site with Heol y Splot had been removed prior to site expansion, but when this was delayed temporary earth banks were sited in place of it. Regulation 16 states: "The operator shall ensure that, where appropriate, a barrier suitable for the purpose of discouraging trespass is placed around the boundary of the quarry and is properly maintained." 16th December 2009
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Rep Ireland Westmeath quarry fatality HSA is investigating a fatal accident at the weekend in which a worker died after becoming trapped under a fallen digger at Hazelwood quarry in Kilbeggan, Westmeath. 7th December 2009.
Australia Company fined over quarry accident At Victoria County Court Barro Proprietary Ltd has been fined $650K(£362,401) in respect of a fatal accident at a quarry in Donnybrook, 20 miles north of Melbourne, where a 39-year old rock crushing machine operator was killed by a falling 1.3-tonne steel plate. 1st December 2009.
November 2009
Canada Miner buried under potash spillage A 28-year old Saskatchewan miner died in an accident on Saturday when a potash ore container cracked and its contents buried him at the Mosaic mine in Esterhazy, 150 miles east of Regina. The mine has 2 shafts descending 1,000 metres, the bins are located on the surface where raw ore is stored pending process. 30th November 2009.
China Explosion kills scores of miners At least 92 miners died and a further 21 were missing following an explosion at the Xinxing coal mine of Heilongjiang Longmay Mining Holding Group, 250 miles east of Harbin. Of 528 underground at the time, 415 managed to escape the accident which left others contending with CO poisoning, burns and fractures. 22nd November 2009
Gaza Electrocution and injuries in tunnel accidents In 2 separate accidents on Monday in tunnels close to the Egyptian border a man was electrocuted in an accident 20 metres underground; in a tunnel in Rafah 4 people were injured in a partial cave-in. 17th November 2009.
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Czech Republic Railway tunnel site collapse A structural collapse occurred at a railway tunnel work site near Jablunkov on Sunday, no injuries were reported from the site which saw a 150x50-metre crater emerge.16th November 2009
Canada Workers feared drowned in old gold mine A desperate search was ongoing through yesterday for 3 workers missing in the old Bachelor Lake gold mine of Metanor Resources at James Bay, 400 miles north of Montreal. Work to align the shaft walls was being undertaken some 500 metres underground. A lift cage was being lowered from 6th to 12th floor level but the presence of flooding was not immediately detected at lower level. 2nd November 2009
October 2009
Rep Ireland Machine fatality at Kerry quarry HSA is investigating a fatal accident at the Arkil Quarry in Lispole, west Kerry, where a worker was killed operating machinery. 29th October 2009
China Explosives accident kills 4 Yunnan miners Toxic fumes killed 4 workers in an explosion during excavation work with explosives at a lead-zinc mine of the Yunnan Haolong Industrial Group in Xiaohe, Qiaojia, it is believed they were the only workers underground at the time. 27th October 2009.
England Mining fatality in Yorkshire UK Coal's Kellingley mine remains closed following the death last week of a 46-year old man in an industrial accident. Reports state an equipment failure may have been involved in the incident. 27th October 2009
China Blasting explosion kills at least 11 miners An explosion at the Dafeng coal mine in Shizuishan has killed 11 miners and left 3
Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com others unaccounted for, only 1 miner escaped the accident. Dynamite was being used to blast rock at the mine owned by the Shenhua Group. 16th October 2009
Gaza Fatal accident at contraband tunnel A rope supporting a number of people in a contraband tunnel in Rafah snapped, leading to 1 fatality and a number of critical injuries, 1 has a broken neck, another a fractured back and skull, and another is listed in a coma in hospital. The accident occurred near the mouth of the tunnel, causing them to fall back into it. 21st October 2009
Ukraine Fire at Donetsk mine An evacuation of the Bulavinskaya coal mine in Yenakiyevo, Donetsk, took place on Tuesday following an outbreak of fire in an exhausted shaft more than a mile underground, no injuries have been reported. 21st October 2009
Scotland Fatal accident at Lochaber quarry Northern Constabulary received a report of a fatal accident on Sunday evening at the Glensanda superquarry on the Morvern Peninsula, Lochaber. 19th October 2009
China 26 dead at tin ore mine as elevator brakes fail Two elevators experienced brake failure at the Shanxing Antimony Industry Company Ltd's tin ore mine in Lengshuijiang City, Hunan, a total of 26 miners died at the scene or later from injuries. 9th October 2009
South Africa Fall of ground death at gold mine A fall of ground accident has led to the death of a mineworker at Harmony Gold's Bambanai mine where face cleaning work was being done when the accident occurred. 13th October 2009
England Diving accident at Somerset quarry HSE is investigating an accident in which a 40-year old woman diver was left with critical injuries after diving at the Vobster Quarry Diving Centre (the former Upper Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
Vobster Quarry) near Frome, Somerset. She has been receiving treatment in a decompression unit in hospital in Plymouth, prompt and efficient work by paramedics at the scene restored her pulse and breathing prior to hospitalisation. 7th October 2009
September 2009
USA Rollover accident at Arizona copper mine A lorry driver has died in a rollover accident at the Ray copper mine of Asarco, 50 miles north of Tucson, after his vehicle went over a safety berm there. 29th September 2009
Gaza Contraband tunnel collapse on Egyptian border A tunnel collapse under the border wall between Gaza and Egypt killed a Palestinian and injured 2 others on Sunday, a number of such excavations used by smugglers are regarded as highly unsafe and have led to numerous accidents. 28th September 2009
USA Unsecured worker killed in fall at new mine site The US Mine Safety & Health Administration has recorded its 12th national fatality of the year following a fatal fall at a new mine site in Franklin County, southern Illinois, where contractor Cowin Company is sinking the shaft for the new Sugar Camp Mine. A concrete pour had been taking place and a metal grate platform was moved to facilitate the withdrawal of the concrete pouring tube from the shaft. A worker, at that moment un-harnessed, fell through the opening. 25th September 2009
South Africa Ground fall fatality at platinum mine All blasting has been suspended at no 8 Shaft of the Impala Platinum mine in Rustenburg following a fall of ground in which a worker has died. 23rd September 2009
South Africa Miner killed in drilling accident A fatal accident has been reported from AngloGold Ashanti's Great Noligwa mine where a worker was killed during drilling work. 15th September 2009
Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
Poland 13 miners killed in Silesian methane explosion Investigators are still trying to establish the cause of an explosion and fire which killed 13 miners and injured a further 41 at the KWK Wujek Slask coal mine in Ruda Slaska, Silesia, a methane seepage and accumulation is believed to have occurred 1,000 metres underground.22nd September 2009
China 13 died in fire at gold mine A cave-in has led to an electrical fire at a gold mine in Henan province where 13 people have died. Of 12 miners underground, 6 managed to flee to safety, the remaining casualties were 7 rescue workers who became trapped underground. 10th September 2009
China Unauthorised production incident kills 35 miners, traps 44 At least 35 miners have died and a further 44 were trapped in Xinhua No 4 Pit in Pingdingshan City, Hunan, where an explosion occurred during maintenance overhaul work when the Henan Provincial Bureau of Workplace Safety had banned production. 9th September 2009
South Africa Subsidence fatality closes gold mine Work was suspended at the Mponeng mine of AngloGold Ashanti Ltd where a ground fall incident led to the death of a 27-year old winch operator. 8th September 2009.
Australia Fatal fall at Western Australia aluminium refinery The Department of Mines and Petroleum is to investigate a fatal accident at the Alcoa Wagerup aluminium refinery, 75 miles south of Perth, where a contractor, 50, of Trans Pacific Industrial Solutions fell to his death on Wednesday. This was the 6th mining death in Western Australia this year. 3rd September 2009
Chile Mudslide sweeps away copper mine gatehouse A substantial mudslide has swept away a security gatehouse at the Los Bronces copper mine of Anglo American plc in southern Chile, leading to the death of a worker inside
Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com and injuries to 10 others. The production areas lie some miles away and were unaffected. 8th September 2009.
August 2009
India Double fatality at West Bengal mine Two miners were killed in a coal fall on Thursday at the Satgram colliery of Eastern Coalfields Ltd in Ranigunj, West Bengal. 28th August 2009
China Hope fades for 5 missing in flooded mine A search was ongoing through Thursday for 5 workers missing in the flooded Hutangchong Coal Mine in Shangli County, Jiangxi. The mine has been undergoing renovation and extension, 8 workers were underground, 2 were found dead, 1 managed to escape the flooding. 28th August 2009
Canada Worker killed in chute fall at rock salt mine A worker at the Sifto Salt mine in Goderich, Ontario, has died after falling into a chute leading to a trench conveyor system for the rock salt. 27th August 2009
Ukraine 8 miners killed in methane explosion An investigation has been ongoing into a methane gas explosion at the Kirov mine in Makeyevka, Donetsk, which killed 8 and injured 5 of the 141 miners underground at the time. 26th August 2009
USA Texas construction worker drowns in flooded pipe tunnel A construction worker of Boring & Tunnelling Company of America drowned in a flooded tunnel during works south of highway 105 in Conroe, Texas, 2 colleagues managed to escape. The workers had entered the pipe some 3 metres underground to retrieve a drill bit which had become stuck. However, a torrential downpour saw substantial water ingress in less than 10 minutes, the public works department deployed a remote control camera to locate the victim's body 17 metres along the 1-metre wide pipe. 20th August 2009
Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
Australia NT zinc mine death investigation Northern Territory WorkSafe inspectors are studying a fatal accident involving a 20-year old worker at the MacArthur River zinc mine of Xstrata, 560 miles southeast of Darwin, the circumstances remain unknown. 24th August 2009
Slovakia Grim task to recover 20 miners after Handlova explosion On Tuesday rescuers recovered 16 of the bodies of 20 miners killed in an underground explosion in the Eastern Shaft at the Hornonitrianske Banke Prievidze lignite/brown coal mine in Handlova, 90 miles northeast of Bratislava. The miners were in the process of extinguishing a fire 330 metres underground in an old tunnel when the explosion occurred, the worst accident in Slovakian mining history. 12th August 2009
South Africa Transport fatality at gold mine A worker died in a transport accident on Tuesday at AngloGold Ashanti's Mponeng mine near Carletonville where he was struck by a locomotive at 83 level 2,500m underground, South Africa's 109th mining fatality this year. 12th August 2009
South Africa Fatal accident at vanadium mine A ramp collapsed on Wednesday at the Vametco vanadium mine near Brits, killing 1 miner and injuring 5 others. There were miners on and under the ramp when the accident occurred at the mine owned by American company Strategic Minerals Corporation in North West Province. 6th August 2009
July 2009
Gaza Strip Contraband tunnel accidents A tunnel collapse killed a Palestinian yesterday close to Rafah, the 4th incident in a week involving accidents in border contraband tunnels. A fuel leak led to a fire in which 7 people died a few days ago. 30th July 2009
USA Transport fatality in West Virginia mine A driver, believed to be an employee of subcontractor Hawkeye, has died in a transport Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com accident while operating an excavator which reversed into a pond at the Samples Mine of Catenary Coal in Boone County, West Virginia, the 2nd state mining fatality of 2009 and the 9th nationally this year. 29th July 2009
Guyana Cuyuni miner killed in unstable excavation The Department of Labour is expected to launch an investigation into the death of a 21- year old miner at the Surinamo mine in Mazaruni where a sandbank collapsed on him during excavation work, breaking his neck. 7th July 2009
June 2009
China Rescuers man pumps to save trapped gold miners A 20-hour rescue to pump water from the flooded Yongjin Gold Mine in Tianzhu County, Guizhou, came to a successful conclusion on Tuesday with the rescue of all 7 trapped gold miners. 24th June 2009
USA Salt mining fatality A collapse of an estimated 75 tonnes of salt from the salt dome of the Morton Salt facility in Weeks Island, Louisiana, has killed the driver of a tractor on an underground roadway there. 23rd June 2009
Borneo Miner killed in tunnel collapse A miner has died and another was injured in a tunnel collapse on Monday at a mine of PT Fajar Bumi Sakti in Tenggarong East Kalimantan, preliminary investigation of the accident yesterday proved inconclusive. 23rd June 2009
Australia Refuge secures ore worker trapped by rock fall An earth tremor measuring 1.1 on the Richter scale produced a rockfall at the Perseverance mine in Leinster, 225 miles north of Kalgoorlie, which saw a 38-year old miner trapped and seeking refuge in an underground shelter equipped with food, compressed oxygen and toilet facilities. Rescuers worked overnight to clear some 400 tonnes of rock, allowing the miner to walk
Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com out uninjured on Thursday after 16 hours in the shelter at the BHP Billiton mine.12th June 2009
Ukraine 2 miners killed, 10 missing in Donetsk mine accident An incident described as an ore or coal-and-gas mixture discharge has led to the deaths of 2 miners and left 10 others missing at the Skochinsky coal mine near Donetsk. Around 50 miners were underground when the accident occurred at a depth of 1,000 metres, the authorities have indicated that the incident was not an explosion, but allegations that explosives work was being undertaken the previous evening have yet to be discounted as linked to the incident. 9th June 2009
Zambia Multiple death at abandoned copper dump At least 8 illegal miners have died in a spoil collapse at the Nkana West mining dump in Kitwe in the northern Copperbelt province. Many miners turn up at the disused dump owned by Chambishi Metals where they use improvised equipment to scour for cobalt and copper deposits. 12th June 2009
USA Fatal crush accident in Kentucky mine The US Mine Safety and Health Administration has reported its first fatal accident of 2009 when a miner died in a crush accident at the D & C Mining Corporation's underground mine at Cranks, Kentucky. A chain failed during the moving of concrete blocks for construction work, causing the load to roll down a gradient and pin a 58-year old miner against a conveyor belt. 11th June 2009
Ukraine Minister hints at ban on deep coal mining Coal Industry Minister Viktor Poltavets suggested on Tuesday that in the wake of the accident at the Skochinsky mine the Ukrainian Government may restrict or forbid the extraction of coal from depths exceeding 1,200 metres, Ukraine features some of the deepest mines in Europe. He indicated that the Skochinsky search-and-rescue operation would be completed by Wednesday evening, 7 miners were still missing on Tuesday evening.10th June 2009
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China 35 Chongqing miners killed in explosives and CO accidents Two separate mining accidents in Chongqing have claimed the lives of 35 miners. Alleged premature detonation of explosives prior to safe evacuation of the Tonghua Coal Mine in Anwen, Qijiang County, led to 30 of the 131 miners underground being killed, on Sunday local police arrested the mine's owner, chief engineer and project manager. In an accident on Sunday at the Xiangyang Coal Mine in Kaixian County 5 miners engaged in water pumping died after being overcome by carbon monoxide. 1st June 2009
May 2009
Philippines Landslide kills dozens of gold miners A mudslide at a gold mine encampment has buried at least 26 miners and injured a further 19 in the village of Napnapan, 570 miles south of Manila. The area around Mt Diwata has experienced heavy rains recently and is connected by one narrow road to the nearest town, presenting problems getting heavy plant to the accident scene. 20th May 2009.
South Africa Seismic events lead to 3 gold mine deaths A series of seismic events measuring 1.5 on the Richter Scale has led to Gold Fields closing its Kloof mine west of Johannesburg where 3 miners have died in separate incidents. 21st May 2009
Ukraine Cave-in traps 9 Donetsk coal miners Rescue operations were ongoing yesterday to reach 9 miners trapped by a rock slide at a depth of 585 metres underground at the Novodzerzhynska coal mine in Dzrerzhynsk, in the Donetsk region, where 118 miners in total were underground, 14 at the locus from where 5 made their own way to safety. 6th May 2009.
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April 2009
South Africa Bodies recovered from Tshepong gold mine Yesterday the bodies of 2 workers were recovered from Harmony Gold's Tshepong mine where 4 miners were trapped in a fall of ground accident on Thursday, the other 2 had managed to make their way to safety. 27th April 2009.
China 20 killed in Hunan mine warehouse explosion The explosion of a 3-storey warehouse at the Qingshanbei coalmine in Hunan has killed 18 workers and left 6 others injured, with 2 others still missing in the rubble. It is believed that explosives may have been stored illegally in the building. 20th April 2009
Malta Worker fights for life after fall at quarry A 32-year old construction worker is listed in critical condition after a fall at work on Wednesday in a quarry at Lapsi, on the southeast coast of Malta. 9th April 2009
China Arrests follow explosion at quarry Police have made 2 arrests in the wake of an explosion and subsequent landslide at the Diaoxiyan Quarry in Yichang City, Hubei, where 4 workers died and a further 3 are missing under rubble. 2nd April 2009
Ukraine Miner killed during dismantling work A miner was killed in an accident on Monday at the Vidrodzhennia coalmine of the Lvivvuhillia state enterprise, the accident occurred during the dismantling of a part of the pit shaft support system, the miner died during transportation to hospital. 7th April 2009
March 2009
South Africa Transport fatality at platinum mine The Department of Minerals & Energy is investigating a transport fatality at the Pilansberg mine of Platmin where a contract worker of MCC Contracts was hit by a vehicle. 27th March 2009 Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
China Miners trapped in flood at pit with stop work order Flooding at a private mine in Sanjiaotang in Hunan has left 13 miners trapped, 2 managers have absconded from the scene. According to the Changning Coal Industrial Bureau the mine had been closed by the local work safety administration on 7th March but had restarted without authorisation. 23rd March 2009
England Miner's death 'misadventure' A rock fall at the Cleveland Potash mine in Teesside on April 19th 2007 killed a 24-year old miner as he installed roof bolts. It remains unclear exactly what occurred and a Coroner's Court jury determined a misadventure verdict. The deceased man was discovered in an area that was unsupported in front of the bolting equipment and no reason for him taking up this position could be established by investigators. 17th March 2009
South Africa Fall of ground kills gold miner Work has been suspended at Anglo Gold Ashanti's Moab Khotsong mine where a fall of ground has killed a miner. 18th March 2009
Bosnia-Herzegovina Methane explosion at Zenica mine The Bosnian Federal Ministry of Energy & Mining has reported that a methane explosion has killed 1 miner and left 6 others injured at the weekend, the accident occurred at a depth of 600 metres at Zenica, 42 miles north of Sarajevo, where there are 4 coalmines and 1 open-cast mine. The cause is initially being attributed to oxidisation with flammable amounts of methane.16th March 2009
USA Electrician killed in Pennsylvanian mine An electrician of TP Electric Inc has been killed in an accident at the Poland Mine in Dunkard, Pennsylvania, where a forklift truck knocked over a scissors lift on which he was standing. 11th March 2009
Mexico Confined space incident claims 6 lives A confined space accident in an improvised underground tunnel killed 6 people this Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com week in San Jose Rincon, 4 of the victims included 2 construction workers, a paramedic and a fireman attempting the rescue of 2 adventurers, in their 60’s, in search of a presumed cache of hidden treasure under the former Hacienda de San Onofre. The tunnel, whose entrance was barely 4 metres wide, ran for 50 metres in length, 15 metres underground. To remove accumulations of water a fuel-powered pump was being used by the treasure seekers, which would have led to a build-up of fumes. During the Mexican Revolution of 1910-17/20(the Francisco Madero uprising) many padrones abandoned their ranches and it was rumoured they buried their wealth, the Hacienda de San Onofre was home to a wealthy mining family. 5th March 2009
USA Dragline kills Louisiana lignite miner A large dragline with a 77m³ bucket used to expose coal in surface mining has killed a worker who became caught in its tracks at the Dollet Hills Mining Company near Mansfield, Louisiana, where soft lignite coal is mined for the 650-megawatt Cleco- Swepco Dolet Hills Power Station. 9th March 2009
Dem Rep Congo Separate mining accidents at Katanga pits Katanga Mining Ltd has reported 2 separate fatal accidents at its Kamoto underground mine and its open-pit mine on the edge of Kolwezi in Katanga province. In the former a miner was killed by a rock fall from the roof, in the latter a landslide crushed a miner. 4th March 2009
Slovenia Mass WW2 grave found at Lasko mine A mass WW2 grave under concrete with 750 bodies has been found at the Barbarin Trench mine near Lasko, Slovenian TV has indicated that the pit was covered in 1942, with the Slovenian Labour and Family Ministry speculating that as many as 12K people were killed there, and at other sites in Kosnice and Celje. Forensic tests suggest many were thrown in alive. 6th March 2009
February 2009
Australia Iron ore train kills Western Australia worker In the early hours of Tuesday a worker was killed by an iron ore train on the Tabba rail Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com line of BHP Billiton, 45 miles south of Port Hedland, the Department of Mines and Petroleum is investigating the accident. 25th February 2009
China At least 74 miners killed in explosion in Gujiao An explosion at the Tunlan Coal Mine of the Shanxi Coking Coal Group in Gujiao killed 74 miners at the weekend, a further 113 were injured, of whom 21 were listed in critical condition. More than 400 miners were underground with dozens trapped. The Tunlan is one of 28 mines owned by the group. 23rd February 2009
Gaza Confined space incident kills 5 in contraband tunnel Five persons, presumed to have been smuggling, died over the weekend in a confined space accident in the Rafah tunnel between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. 23rd February 2009
Australia Driver crushed by coal at Hunter Valley mine A 59-year old HGV driver was killed in the early hours of Wednesday in an accident during coal loading at a mine near Ravensworth, New South Wales, when coal from a chute entered the driving cab and crushed him. 19th February 2009
England Fatal accident at quarry An employee of a plant hire company has died in an industrial accident at the Divet Hill quarry in Northumberland operated by Cemex. One report states that he was crushed beneath an item of plant. 23rd February 2009
South Africa Transport fatality at Anglo Coal mine The Department of Minerals and Energy is investigating a transport accident at Anglo Coal‘s Goedehoop mine where a worker was struck by a coal transporting vehicle, succumbing to his injuries in hospital. 18th February 2009
Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
January 2009
South Africa Above ground accident at Anglo Platinum's Paardekraal shaft 2 The Department of Minerals & Energy issued a Section 54 work suspension order at Anglo Platinum's mine near Rustenburg following a fatal accident involving a worker on the surface at the Paardekraal shaft 2. 27th January 2009
China 5 Inner Mongolia miners succumb to gas poisoning A gas poisoning incident claimed the lives of 4 miners on Saturday who had been hospitalised following the accident at a mine of the Shenhua Group Baotou Mining Company in Erdos, Inner Mongolia, another miner had been pronounced dead at the shaft. 18th January 2009
South Africa Death investigation at platinum mine A Section 54 regulation order was issued to suspend work in a shaft at the Impala Platinum mine in Rustenburg following a fatal accident there in which a mine worker died when a ventilation pipe being moved by a number of workers fell on him.13th January 2009
India Landslide kills youth at illegal quarry Charges of negligence and breach of the Assam government's Child Labour Act have been levied against a quarrying contractor at an illegal stone quarry on the Baleswar riverbed in Cachar where a 13-year old youth died in a landslide. 12th January 2009
China Alleged mining accident prompts investigation in north China On Sunday, the Shuozhou Municipal Work Safety Board announced that it has launched an investigation into an alleged flooding accident last month at the Xinzhuang Coal Mine in Shanyin, Shanxi, in which 4 deaths occurred. It is alleged that the company failed to report the accident and even transferred corpses from the location. 5th January 2009
Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
December 2008
South Africa Gold miner killed in chairlift accident A worker has died while using a chairlift rope conveyor which was under maintenance at Harmony Gold's Tshepong mine in the Free State. The system had been running for 24 hours to remove spin from the ropes which propel the conveyor transporting miners from one level to another. The victim had hooked his chair on but may have been unaware of the maintenance work. 18th December 2008
Russia Murmansk fertiliser mine explosion Rostekhnadzor is investigating the explosion at the Rasvumchorrsky mine of PhosAgro Apatit, outside Kirovsk, which killed 12 of the 18 miners on site. Some 18 tonnes of explosives had been placed for a controlled blast and a further 30 tonnes were being prepared to be set when the explosion occurred. The company operates 3 other such mines in its fertiliser manufacturing enterprises in the Murmansk region.17th December 2008
Vietnam Methane explosion kills 8 Quang Ninh miners A methane gas explosion has killed 8 miners and left 1 missing in a mine at Cam Pha Town in northern Quang Ninh province, 24 others among the 100 workers were injured. The accident occurred 250 metres underground in a ventilation section at No. 4 mine, excavation site No. 3. 10th December 2008
USA Oregon quarry death investigation Department of Labour and Industries' inspectors have been on site at Slavco Rock Products in Clackamas, Oregon, following the death of a worker in a quarry accident. 5th December 2008
South Africa 2 killed in separate gold mine accidents Two workers died in separate accidents at gold mines on Tuesday. At Pamodzi Gold's President Steyn mine in the Free State a maintenance worker was
Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com killed while working on the S24 Underground Winder at the No 2 Shaft. Earlier on Tuesday at Anglo Gold Ashanti's Moab Khotsong mine a miner died in a locomotive accident.3rd December 2008
November 2008
Canada Miner injured in Bisset mine derailment A Manitoba miner is recovering in hospital after being pinned by an ore locomotive which derailed in a tunnel 1/2-mile underground at San Gold Corporation's Rice Lake mine in Bisset, 100 miles northeast of Winnipeg. 25th November 2008
Scotland Tractor fatality at Moray quarry The HSE has been advised of a fatal accident on Friday afternoon at a quarry in the Dufftown area of Moray where a tractor driver has died in a workplace accident. 22nd November 2008
France Quarry electrical accident A maintenance worker of Corps-Nuds was badly burned on Tuesday in an accident at the Clos Pointu site in Saint-Malo-de-Phily, southwest of Rennes, another worker of the Mont-Serrat quarry who was working with him escaped with lesser injuries. 19th November 2008
China Rescuers hopeful of reaching 34 trapped miners Cautious optimism was being expressed late on Monday that 34 miners trapped in the flooded Gaomendong coal mine in Pindingshan, Henan, could be rescued from their location 250 metres underground and 800 metres from the pit's entrance. Holes were being bored at a rate of almost 100 metres every 2 hours, optimism hinges on the fact that prevailing gas density was low and water ingress was not believed to be substantial. 18th November 2008
Romania 12 killed in double explosion at Petrila mine Two explosions at the Petrila coal mine in the Jiu Valley of southwest Romania left 12 people dead on Saturday, mining company CNH Petrosani has indicated that 8 miners Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com were killed in a methane explosion at a depth of 950 metres, a secondary explosion 4 hours later killed 4 rescuers, 8 other workers are being treated for burns injuries. The Petrila mine, like many in nearby Ukraine, is a particularly deep one. 16th November 2008
Guinea Collapse at SAG mine kills 13 illegal gold miners At least 13 miners working clandestinely have been killed in an earth collapse at the Societe Aurifiere de Guinee (SAG) open-cast gold mine in Siguiri, northeast Guinea, numerous illegal diggers work at the SAG mine which is operated industrially. 14th November 2008
South Africa 2 miners killed in CO accident The Department of Mines and Energy is investigating a double carbon monoxide accident at the Xstrata Witbank South coal mine where a CO build-up occurred after drilling breached a closed section of the mine and gas from there filled their working area. 11th November 2008
China Explosion at highway tunnel site An explosion in a tunnel at a construction site on the Dianjiang-Linshui highway in Chongqing, southwest China, killed 2 workers and left more than 20 others injured at the weekend. 3rd November 2008
October 2008
China 55 miners trapped in flooded pits, 2 dead in 3 separate accidents Rescuers are racing against the clock to reach 55 miners trapped in accidents at 3 separate mines. An explosion at the Yaotou mine in Chencheng has left 28 miners trapped in a shaft which caved in after an explosion and has flooded, ventilation is also poor. 36 miners were underground at the time of the explosion, only 7 escaped, the body of a dead miner was recovered on Thursday. At the Qinghai Coal Mining colliery in Xiangning pumps have been removing water at the rate of 63m³ hourly but the 7 miners trapped there in the flooded shaft have been cut off for 30 hours. At the Mazhuang Colliery in Jiyuan City 20 miners are also trapped in a flooded pit, 1 Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com worker's body has been recovered. All mines had valid operational licenses. 31st October 2008
Ghana Transport fatality at gold mine An underground transport accident has killed an employee of contractors MBC at the Anglogold Ashanti mine in Obuasi, southern Ghana, the Chief Inspector of Mines has been notified of the accident.30th October 2008.
China 3 miners killed in cable car crash A pulley failed on a cable car transporting miners from the coal face to the surface at the Shenzhou Mining Company's pit in Luliang City on Sunday, causing 3 deaths and leaving dozens of others with fracture injuries. 20th October 2008
USA Fatal accident at Georgia limestone mine The Mine and Safety Administration is investigating a fatal accident at the Talona(Ellijay) Mine of Carmeuse Lime, 50 miles north of Atlanta, Georgia, the body of a 45-year old worker who had been operating heavy machinery scaling rock off the walls 2 miles underground has now been recovered. 20th October 2008.
South Africa Miner killed, another missing after tremor at gold mine An earth tremor measuring 2.4 on the Richter scale led to the death of a miner at Shaft 5 of the Dreifontein Gold Fields mine yesterday, a rescue effort was ongoing through Wednesday night to reach another trapped miner. 9 other miners were injured, 1 was listed in critical condition. 16th October 2008.
Kazakhstan Press conference and charges in wake of Satpayev mine accident Following the fatal accident at mine 65 of the Kazakhmys Corporation on October 12th in Satpayev, the Kazakh Emergencies Ministry is holding a press conference today (Wednesday) in Asanta, legal proceedings are being prepared under Article 152 of the Criminal Code of Kazakhstan regarding violation of safety rules resulting in death by negligence. 15th October 2008
Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
USA Transport crush fatality in West Virginia mine A contract worker for Mountaineer Labour Solutions was killed in a crushing accident at the Independence Coal Corporation's Justice No 1 mine in Boone County, West Virginia, where he became pinned between a mine wall and a vehicle.10th October 2008
China 4 dead in shaft collapse at Yunan mine A shaft collapsed on Thursday at the Zhenxing mine in Laibling Town, Xuanwei City, with 8 workers underground, 4 are known to have died, 1 is being treated for injuries.10th October 2008
China 16 arrests in wake of major accident at Xinfeng mine A number of arrests have been made in connection with an accident at the Xinfeng No 2
Coal Mine of Dengfeng City on September 21st in which 37 people died. The mine's investor, the managing director and 7 safety officers have been arrested , as well as 7 officials from the Dengfeng Municipal Coal Mine Bureau and Dajindian Town who were also detained in respect of dereliction of duty. The accident occurred a week after a production suspension order had been issued. 7th October 2008.
September 2008
China Mine safety audits in wake of 37 deaths at Xinfeng mine A gas explosion at the Xinfeng No 2 coal mine, southwest of Dengfang City, has killed 37 workers, another 71 people underground at the time escaped to safety. The mine of the Guangxian Industry and Trade Company Ltd was undergoing technical refurbishment at the time, a full safety audit has now been ordered there and at other mines undergoing similar refurbishment. 22nd September 2008
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USA Plant fatality at Kentucky mine A mine worker has died on Friday after the earthmover he was operating went over a 60-metre earth embankment at an International Coal Group mine in Perry County, southeast Kentucky, the 3rd state mining fatality of 2008. 20th September 2008.
China Flood water trapping 18 workers in Hunan mine Flooding has trapped 18 workers at the Renhe Coal Mine of the Hebi Coal Industry Group in Chanzhuang, Hunan, where 62 people were engaged in maintenance work, 38 escaped to safety and 6 others were rescued. The men, who were digging in the mine waste area at the time, are being trapped by around 300m³ of water. 8th September 2008
Russia Methane explosion at Siberian open-pit mine An excavator operator has died and 6 other workers were injured in a methane gas explosion at an open-pit mine in Khakasia, southern Siberia, at one stage the fire extended over a 40m² area. 4th September 2008
August 2008
Scotland 2 preventable deaths at quarry Scottish Coal Company Ltd has been fined a total of £400,000 after pleading guilty to breaching S.3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in connection with an industrial accident on 26th February 2007 in which 2 workmen were crushed in their vehicle by a 100-tonne dumper truck at the Pennyvennie site, in Dalmellington, East Ayrshire. The dump truck driver was unable to see the deceased's vehicle because it was in a blindspot. An HSE inspector explained that there was a "clear failure by Scottish Coal to provide suitable means of communication between different vehicles on site to reduce the risk of collisions, as well as a failure to manage vehicles on their site. Earth-moving vehicles such as dump trucks or bulldozers have poor visual fields due to their large size. It is crucial that additional steps are taken to ensure that the drivers of these dump trucks are aware of other smaller vehicles around them. Control measures to reduce the risk are easily available at a minimal cost. Installing an additional camera on the side of the
Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com dump truck, fitting a raised roof beacon or other means of improving visibility on the Landrover could prevent similar incidents in the future." 27th August 2008
Canada Worker buried under Ontario mine rock fall A Ministry of Labour investigation has been launched in Ontario into an accident which saw a worker buried after a rock fall occurred 300 metres underground at the Canada Talc mine north of Belleville where work was ongoing to recover the worker. 21st August 2008.
Australia Falling object kills quarry maintenance worker The Department of Mines and Energy is investigating a fatal accident at Castle Creek Quarry, 125 miles southwest of Gladstone, Queensland, where a maintenance worker was killed on Monday after being struck on the head by a falling object while working on plant there.19th August 2008
China 23 miners trapped in Faku pit A gas explosion on Monday has trapped 23 miners at the Baijiagou coal mine in the Faku region of northeast China. The explosion occurred at a depth of 250 metres, destroying ventilation and producing a critical situation for the trapped miners. Late on Monday it was reported that 2 miners had died in the accident, 3 others are listed in critical condition, with rescue efforts ongoing. 19th August 2008
Russia Rock fall kills 3 Kemerovo miners A rock fall has killed 3 Siberian miners at the No.12 coalmine in Kiselyovsk, Kemerovo, 7 colleagues managed to make their own way out to safety. 18th August 2008
England Conveyor accident A man has been seriously injured at a china clay pit in Par, Cornwall. The accident happened yesterday morning, one report states he became caught up and trapped in conveying equipment at the site operated by Imerys. 15th August 2008
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Australia Queensland quarry worker drowned A pontoon overturned at a sandstone quarry in Donnybrook, 38 miles north of Brisbane, 1 of 4 workers on the pontoon became trapped underneath and drowned, his body recovered by divers. Queensland Workplace Health and Safety is investigating, it remains unclear whether a crane on site was involved in the accident. 14th August 2008.
Burkina Faso 34 Mossi miners killed at illegal gold mine A mudslide following dynamiting at an illegal gold mine near Konkera, 310 miles southwest of Ouagadougou, killed 34 gold miners from the Mossi ethnic group of the Volta River Basin area. The government had ordered a ban on all activities at illegal gold mines during the wet summer season to preclude such accidents but fails to impose its will, given that there are as many as 200K miners working at 200 such sites. 11th August 2008
July 2008
Scotland Woman killed in mine shaft fall A 44-year old woman has died following a 15m fall down a shaft of former mine workings near her home in Galston, Ayrshire. Reports state that she may have fallen following ground subsidence while walking in the area to which the public have access. 28th July 2008
China Race to reach trapped miners in flooded pit Rescuers in Guangxi are racing the clock to reach 30 miners trapped in a flooded pit 1 mile from the entrance to the Nadu coal mine of Youjiang Mining Bureau of Baise. Conflicting figures have been quoted of the number of miners in the shaft when the accident occurred, it is believed that of 56 down there, 7 managed to escape to safety, 13 were rescued and 6 are known to have died. Although contact has been established with some trapped miners, oxygen levels are depleting rapidly. 23rd July 2008
Japan Excavation explosion kills 2 workers in Niigata utility tunnel project An explosion during excavation work killed 2 workers on Tuesday in a gas tunnel project Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com in the Utsuo district of Joetsu, Niigata, where the Teikoku Oil Company is constructing the 40-mile long tunnel. At present half a mile has been completed, the victims were using heavy machinery and explosives when the accident occurred. 16h July 2008
Uganda Quarry safety audits demanded The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) of Uganda has issued a deadline for all 26 quarries in Mukuno to submit safety audit reports conducted by competent personnel following public complaint over a number of safety issues. A teenager has had to have a badly broken leg amputated after being struck by a flying rock while riding in a lorry, while residential areas have been affected by flying explosion debris. A school roof and a health centre were damaged adjacent to the Cementers quarry. 11th July 2008
Sweden Iron ore miners await rescue from refuge 1km underground A rescue operation was ongoing through Thursday evening to reach 8 miners trapped in a refuge more than half a mile underground following a vehicle fire at the LKAB(Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara Aktiebolag) iron ore mine in Malmberget, south of Kiruna. Around 50 miners were underground at the time, most escaped before the smoke-logging developed.4th July 2008
China CO poisoning kills 21 Shanxi miners A gas explosion has killed at least 21 miners at the Wujiu mine in the Nanjiao district of Shanxi, although 11 miners managed to flee the accident the exact number working at the time was unknown. 7th July 2008
South Africa Transport fatality at east Rand gold mine The Department of Minerals & Energy is investigating a fatal accident which occurred yesterday at Pamodzi Gold's East Rand operation where a locomotive guard was killed after being struck by a hopper at the K12 work area. 4th July 2008
Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
June 2008
South Africa Earth tremor accident at gold mine An earth tremor measuring 1.8 on the Richter scale led to a fall of ground which killed 1 worker and injured 3 others on Thursday at Anglo Gold Ashanti's mine in Tautona. 27th June 2008
South Africa Gold mine work suspended after fatal accident Pamodzi Gold has suspended all raiseline work at its East Rand sites following the death of a worker who died in an accident after entering a discontinued work area at No 4 shaft where the Department of Minerals & Energy has been undertaking a safety audit. 26th June 2008
Vietnam Quadruple fatality at southern quarry A rock fall at the Viet Tan Rock Exploitation Private Company in Hoc Soc Hamlet, 150 miles south of Ho Chi Minh City, has killed 4 workers trapped under hundreds of tonnes of stone. High capacity digging equipment was being used to drill at the base of the quarry which has 35Mm³ of stone reserves when rocks descended from higher levels, the area in Kien Giang province has been hit by torrential rain in recent days. 18th June 2008
USA 3rd Pennsylvanian mine fatality of year The Mine Safety & Health Administration is investigating a fatal accident at the Harmony Mine of UAE Coal Corporation Associates outside Mount Carmel, 100 miles northwest of Philadelphia, where a 40-year old miner has died, the 3rd Pennsylvanian mining fatality of 2008. 18th June 2008
Ukraine 37 men trapped in Karl Marx mine A gas explosion 1km underground trapped 37 miners on Sunday at the Karl Marx mine of Orzhonakidzengol in Yenakievo. The mine had failed a safety inspection on Thursday and was effectively closed, it remains unclear whether the trapped workers were performing maintenance or illegal mining. The force of the blast caused structural damage at the surface and to the elevators and Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com air supply system, rescuers have been constantly assessing the shaft's structural integrity and a portable lift has been introduced. 9th June 2008
Poland Methane explosion kills 4 miners A methane gas explosion has killed 4 miners at the Borynia mine of the Jastrzebska Spolka Weglowa company in Jastrzebie Zdroj, 23 others were injured; of 16 hospitalised, 3 have serious burns. The accident occurred 900 metres underground during maintenance work on a shaft wall. 6th June 2008
Russia Miner rescued alive, 2 still missing Although one miner was found alive on Sunday at a depth of 300 metres after Friday's accident at a mine in Mezhdurechensk, Kemerovo Oblast, 2 others are still missing. The bodies of 3 other victims were also recovered on Sunday, 11 survived the accident. 2nd June 2008.
USA Fatality at New York mine The Mine Health & Safety Administration is investigating a weekend accident in which a 40-year old New York miner was crushed while working 700 metres underground at a St Lawrence Zinc Co mine east of Gouverneur, he was on a platform drilling into the rock face when the ceiling collapsed, pinning him under a heavy rock section. 2nd June 2008
India Kerala quarry death A worker was killed at the weekend in an accident while operating a power hammer at a quarry in Kunnikode, Kerala. 2nd June 2008
May 2008
Ukraine Search for missing Donetsk miners Rescue and recovery teams strove during the weekend to locate 7 miners missing after a methane gas explosion at the Krasnolimanskaya mine in the Donetsk region, 4 miners died in the accident, 3 escaped with injuries. The 50-year old mine has high methane concentrations. 27th May 2008 Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
USA Mine worker electrocuted The US Mine Safety & Health Administration issued its preliminary findings on Monday into Friday's death of a 24-year old maintenance worker at the Aracoma Alma No 1 Mine of Massey Energy in Melville, southwest Virginia. The worker was maintaining an electrical shuttle vehicle used in underground coal transportation, it is believed he was electrocuted after breaching a live cable. This was the 9th US mining fatality of 2008. 20th May 2008
Canada Plant fatality at Manitoba quarry An autopsy will be conducted today in Winnipeg following the death of an employee of a construction company who died when his excavator overturned into a gravel quarry close to Pine Ridge Golf and Country Club in Springfield, east of Winnipeg. 19th May 2008
Slovakia Boy pulled out of disused mine shaft A 10-year old boy was rescued on Sunday after falling into a 70-metre deep disused mine shaft at Roznava in southeast Slovakia. The boy had been playing with friends in an area of thick undergrowth above the shaft, it took some time for rescuers to locate the exact spot. Fire crews used cables and an improvised frame stretcher to lift him out, the condition of his injuries remains unknown. 5th May 2008
South Africa Cage cable failure kills 9 gold miners Rope failure caused a cage lowering 9 miners at Gold Fields' South Deep mine to fall almost 60 metres on Thursday, killing all 9 who were being taken down to 110 level 2,862 metres underground. Gold Fields have suspended all work underground below level 95. 8 of the dead workers were employees of Murray & Roberts Cementation, the other was a Gold Fields' worker. A total of 14 miners have now died in this area in the last week, and Thursday's accident was the second such cable failure in 2 years at the twin-mine shaft. 2nd May 2008
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April 2008
South Africa 4 gold miners killed after earth tremors An earth tremor measuring 1.7 on the Richter scale has led to 4 fatalities at Gold Fields mines on Tuesday. At the Thabelang No 10 Shaft at Driefontein 3 miners were killed and 2 injured after a fall of ground occurred, another died in a rock fall at South Deep. 30th April 2008
USA Stokes basket rescue from aggregate bin in Massachusetts A technical rescue team deployed a stokes basket and a crane to extract a worker of Plant Outfitters of San Antonio, Texas, who became trapped on Monday in a 5-metre deep aggregate bin at Precast Specialities Corp in Abington, Massachusetts. The worker had descended the internal ladder of the bin, which was being relined, to retrieve debris from the base but the bin's pneumatic clamshell gate which controls aggregate flow unexpectedly opened. He fell through, his legs becoming trapped as it closed again. A stokes basket rescue brought him up to the top of the bin, then a crane and forklift completed the rescue. He is believed to have broken an ankle in the accident. 23rd April 2008
Australia Mining fatality The malfunction of an elevating work platform saw a worker sustain crush injuries after becoming pinned against the roof of a mine while working almost 1 mile underground at Stawell Gold Mines in Victoria, he is expected to make a full recovery following hospitalisation in Melbourne. 19th April 2008.
Russia Miners missing after fire in Svalbard mine An outbreak of fire occurred on Thursday at a mine in Barentsberg in the Russian enclave of Svalbard off the Norwegian coast, 31 miners were working at the time, 2 remain uncounted for, the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority is investigating this incident.18th April 2008
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March 2008
Tanzania 75 Tanzanite gemstone miners drown More than 75 Tanzanian gemstone miners drowned in a major flood at Block B of the Mererani mine in Manyara, 25 miles southeast of Arusha. Torrential rainfall saw water get into 8 pits then spread, the electrical system was severely reduced by the rain which meant there was a lack of power for the water pumps to clear the pits. 31st March 2008.
Norway Russian mining helicopter crash in Svalbard A Russian helicopter has crashed during landing in windy conditions at the Russian mining settlement of Barentsburg on the Svalbard Isles, 300 miles off the Norwegian mainland, 3 of the 9 people on board have died, 2 of the surviving injured have been transferred for hospitalisation in Longyearbyen. The flight belonged to Arktikogal, the Russian company which mines coal there, both pilots and a mine worker were killed. 31st March 2008
Gaza Contraband tunnel collapse leaves 1 dead The collapse of a border tunnel between Gaza and Egypt killed a smuggler on Wednesday, the 600-metre long dormant tunnel 10 metres underground running from the al-Salam district was in the process of being recommissioned by a team of smugglers when it collapsed. It is believed that a rod was being pushed through the surface of fine sandy tilth when the roof failed. 13th March 2008
Belgium Falling stone hits lime quarry workers Material falling from a rock face at the Carmeuse limestone quarry in Moha, Liege, struck 4 subcontract workers on Tuesday, 1 of whom was more seriously injured, fire crews from nearby Huy attended the incident. 12th March 2008
South Africa Transport fatality at gold mine A worker has died in a transport accident at the Simmers and Jack Buffelsfontein mine near Klerksdorp, the accident occurred at the No 2 shaft and has led to a suspension of transport. 11th March 2008
Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
China Coal dust explosion kills 17 miners Spontaneous combustion of coal dust led to an explosion and fire which has killed 17 miners at Jin'an mine in Dongliao County, Liaoyuan, where 30 miners were working in a tunnel 85 metres underground. The 13 survivors managed to avoid becoming trapped when the tunnel collapsed. 6th March 2008
South Africa Worker killed in gold mine stope accident The Department of Minerals and Energy is investigating a fatal accident which occurred at Pamodzi Gold's Orkney No 2 Shaft where a worker was killed when subsidence occurred at a stope in the rock face. 5th March 2008
February 2008
South Africa Double fatality at Harmony gold mine A seismic event has produced a rockfall at Harmony Gold's Elandsrand mine near Carletonville in which 2 workers have died. 29th February 2008.
USA Rochester Mine Safety Bureau investigates Wisconsin quarry death A Wisconsin plant operator died when his backhoe fell through ice at Park View Sand and Gravel Pit in Rochester, the 62-year old driver was trying to free a cable frozen into a pond at the quarry when the accident occurred. His body was recovered 6 hours later some 2 metres from the backhoe. Given that the plant features a water-tight cab he was either pitched out or attempted to leave it. 27th February 2008
South Africa Tremors lead to fatal accident at Kloof gold mine Earth tremors on Monday morning measuring 3 on the Richter Scale produced a rock fall which killed a stoping worker at the Goldfields' Kloof mine 40 miles southwest of Johannesburg. The accident occurred at level 37, 3,000 metres underground, in an area not in production where a small crew was performing cleaning and safety work in a narrow aperture in the rock wall. 26th February 2008 Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
South Africa Quadruple fatality at minerals factory An explosion and fire at furnace 6 of the Assmang minerals plant in Cato Ridge, between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, killed 4 workers at furnace 5 on Sunday, 4 other workers are being treated for serious burns. The minerals factory, a subsidiary of African Rainbow Minerals Ltd, is currently subject to an inquiry into a fatal accident in December involving an issue of molten manganese from a furnace. 25th February 2008
England Quarry death in Somerset It is reported that a man in his 20's, believed to an employee of a contractor, died in a workplace accident at Whatley Quarry on Saturday. One account states that he was cleaning out a large storage bin when he was buried under limestone. 14th February 2008
Ireland Quarry accident fine Kilkenny Limestone has been fined €4K (£2,800) in respect of an accident at a quarry in Paulstown in August 2006 when a bandsaw wire snapped and inflicted injuries to a worker who was standing 6 metres away, the machine being inadequately guarded. 8th February 2008
January 2008
South Africa Mud slide kills ore loading worker In the early hours of Tuesday a worker was killed in a mud slippage at the Great Nolingwa mine of AngloGold Ashanti, he was engaged in the loading of ore at an ore pass when the accident happened.30th January 2008.
South Africa Worker drowns at flooded platinum mine A maintenance worker has drowned at the Amandelbult mine of Anglo Platinum in Rustenburg where recent heavy rains led to water ingress and a reduced production capacity. The Department of Minerals and Energy will investigate the accident, 221 mineworking
Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com fatalities occurred in South Africa last year, an increase of 11% and the first rise in 5 years. 29th January 2008
South Africa Earth tremor leads to mine fatality An earth tremor of 1.8 on the Richter scale produced a rock fall on Thursday at the Buffelsfontein mine of Simmers & Jack in North West Province which killed 1 miner and left 4 others injured, 1 of whom is listed in serious condition. 25th January 2008
South Africa Cleaner killed in underground diamond mine accident The Department of Minerals & Energy is investigating a fatal accident in which a contract cleaner, 27, of Makolometja Business Enterprise was killed in an underground accident at the Cullinan diamond mine this week.24th January 2008
China Dozens killed at abandoned Shanxi mine More than 20 illegal miners were killed in a gas explosion at the abandoned Weijialing coal mine near Linfen in Shanxi province. The mine had been opened 4 years ago but was closed shortly afterwards and had been exploded and partially collapsed to prevent its reuse. 22nd January 2008
Zambia Power outage trapped copper miners The Zambia Electric Supply Company (Zesco) is investigating a major power blackout at the weekend which left 400 copper miners stranded underground at 3 central Copperbelt mines, only connection to the power supply from bordering Democratic Republic of Congo relieved the situation. 22nd January 2008
India Rock slide kills worker at Kerala quarry A rock slide at a quarry at Oorakkad, Kizhakkambalam, 15 miles from Kochi, has killed a 44-year old Kerala worker at the premises operated by GK Granite.21st January 2008
Macedonia Transport accident at lignite mine A 26-year old mining engineer was killed in a transport accident on Wednesday morning at the Suvodol lignite mine of REK Bitola in southwest Macedonia, the victim was Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com driving his vehicle at the mine adjacent to the thermal power plant when he was struck by a reversing bulldozer, a colleague in the car survived the accident. 3rd January 2008
December 2007
Vietnam 7 killed in cliff slippage at quarry The collapse of a cliff at a quarry in Thach Ha in central Vietnam where stones were being loaded on to a lorry has killed 7 workers, 6 of whom were women, another worker is critically injured, no locally heavy rain had caused the slippage. 29th December 2007
India Quarry accident inquiry critical of safety An inquiry into the fatal accident at the weekend which claimed 5 lives at the Kuzhoor stone quarry near Irapuram, Kochi, has been critical of safety standards there although the quarry has current Mining & Geology Department certification. No competent blast man was on duty for triggering explosions, the practice of depositing spoil on boulders at the top of the quarry posed a stability risk given the 90-degree vertical cut procedure deployed. 28th December 2007
Canada Death at quarry Quebec workplace health and Safety Board is investigating a fatal accident at the Dagenais quarry in l'Ange-Gardien, western Quebec, in which a 49-year worker died in a gravel crusher accident, it is speculated that he had been working under the conveyor belt when his clothes became snagged. 21st December 2007
The Netherlands Tunnel cladding kills motorist The Dutch workplace inspectorate (arbeidsinspectie) is investigating a fatal accident at the Ijtunnel in north Amsterdam where a section of cladding fell and killed a motorist on Thursday, work has been ongoing at the Noord Zuidlijn of the tunnel. 21st December 2007
Australia Mining incident affects miners An explosion during routine underground firing at the Fosterville Gold Mine, 12 miles east of Bendingo, Victoria, left 12 miners exposed to a toxic atmosphere comprising of Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide, underground mining has been ongoing at the site of Perseverance Corporation for 18 months where firing is used to dislodge rock.21st December 2007.
China Miner survives 113 hours in flooded pit Rescuers in Shangrao County have reached a surviving miner who was among 4 trapped by flood ingress at the licensed Qunfa coal mine, 6 miners escaped the accident, 3 other miners were found dead by search teams, the survivor is described as well despite enduring 113 hours underground. 18th December 2007
New Zealand Abseiler rescued from toxic mine shaft Otago fire crews wearing breathing apparatus managed to rescue an abseiler who was overcome by toxic fumes in a former mine shaft in Kaitangata, 6 miles south of Balclutha, 2 others in the party managed to raise the alarm. The "black air" atmosphere of the shaft, last worked 35 years ago, may have featured pockets of methane gas. 17th December 2007
England Fatal accident at Kent quarry It is reported that a man died last Wednesday in a workplace accident at the Salt Lane Quarry in Cliffe. The account states that the deceased was driving a dumper truck at the time when it entered a deep pond. 10th December 2007
Bosnia/Herzegovina Coal waste tip slippage kills 2 workers Two workers were killed on Tuesday by a coal waste slippage at the Stara Jama mine in Zenica, central Bosnia, efforts were being made later in the day to locate the body of one of the workers at the deep mine site where deposits are worked by the Kakanj group. 12th December 2007
South Africa Unstable excavation kills diamond miner An unstable excavation claimed the life of a 32-year old miner on Tuesday at the Sonop Diamond Diggings diamond mine in Sydney-on-Vaal in the northern Cape when a wall collapsed during digging. 12th December 2007. Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
Ukraine Further explosion at mine emergency site The Public Prosecutor's office in Donetsk has filed a case on Penal Code Article 272, Part 2, following Saturday's methane gas explosion at the Zasyadko mine where 47 workers were injured, 3 listed in critical condition. The accident occurred at the 13th western longface, the 7th section, where 63 workers were engaged in remedial work following a recent explosion there, 385 workers in total were on site. The most seriously injured are being treated for CO poisoning at Kalinin Regional Hospital. 3rd December 2007
November 2007
Bulgaria 3 killed in lead mine accident Three workers have died in an accident at the Dzhurkovo lead and zinc mine at Laki, 125 miles southeast of Sofia. The precise circumstances of the accident have yet to be confirmed, it is thought that a landslide occurred, trapping 1 miner, the other 2 fatalities occurred when attempts were made to rescue him, possibly failing due to a gaseous atmosphere in a confined space. The mine has been privately operated since 1998. 30th November 2007
South Korea Mobile phone speculated as cause of quarry worker's death It is being speculated that an exploding cell phone battery may have caused the death of a quarry worker, the victim was found dead at his work with substantial burn injuries on his chest and broken ribs and spine, police report that his LG Electronics mobile phone battery in his shirt pocket had melted. 29th November 2007. UPDATE. This incident is now being attributed to the victim being struck accidentally by a colleague's drilling equipment
Ecuador Dozens missing in gold mine explosion The explosion of a dynamite store in the Liga de Oro gold mine in Ponce Enrique, in the province of Azuay, 220 miles southwest of Quito, has killed 7 miners and left 30 others missing, 40 workers have been hospitalised. Around 400 workers, mostly Peruvians, are employed there by operator Sominur. Initial speculation has been of an electrical malfunction but the local Civil Defence has speculated that a carelessly discarded cigarette by a worker at the store may have Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com caused the blast. The workers were on a break when the explosion occurred. Ecuador has more than 4,000 mines, of which 681 mine gold, silver or copper. 28th November 2007
Spain Worker crushed at Northern road tunnel site A fatal crush accident has claimed the life of a worker on Tuesday at the Bracons road tunnel site in Garrotxa, Girona, where the 57-year old victim was crushed between a lorry and a large cylinder. 28th November 2007.
Canada Ontario miner killed by LHD An Ontario miner died after being struck by a Load Haul Dump (LHD) truck, also known as a scoop tram, at the Redstone coal mine of Liberty Mines, 10 miles south of Porcupine, northwest Ontario. 21st November 2007
Ukraine Criminal investigation into mining disaster The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office has opened a criminal investigation into the methane gas explosion and fire at the Zassyadko coal mine which may claim more than 100 lives, 63 miners have died and a further 37 are missing. The accident occurred at a depth of 1,078 metres when 457 miners were underground. In a separate accident a cave-in killed a miner at the Horlivka mine, north of Donetsk. Ukrainian mines are extremely deep and feature high concentrations of methane. One third of all 165 mines are more than 100 years old and require modernisation. Official Ukrainian death figures from mining accidents in 2007 are 150 for the January-July period, with 6000 workers injured. 19th November 2007
South Africa Rock fall kills subcontractor at Kroondal An employee of subcontractor Murray and Roberts Cementation was killed in a rock fall on Thursday at the Kroondal mine of Aquarius Platinum, the accident occurred in the mine's central shaft. 16th November 2007
Australia Yalloun coal mine floods Flood water from the La Trobe River led to the collapse early on Wednesday of a
Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com section of the Yalloun coal mine, 100 miles east of Melbourne. Water ingress had been occurring for a week from the river in full spate, TRUenergy anticipates restoring the mine within a week. No miners were on site at the time of the incident.15th November 2007
England Quarry equipment removes worker's arm A workman has lost his arm in an industrial accident after coming into contact with conveying equipment at a Lancashire quarry. The incident occurred on Monday at the Marshall Mono Ltd quarry in Ramsbottom. 8th November 2007
Bulgaria Mine electrician killed in conveyor accident An electrician was killed in an accident on Monday at the Republika coal mine near Pernik, he became caught on a conveyor belt, the nature of the accident saw his leg torn off, he died in transit to hospital from shock and blood loss. Other recent incidents in Bulgarian mines have claimed 5 lives, an explosion killed 4 miners in Oranovo and a miner succumbed to methane gas in Tvarditza. 13th November 2007
USA Fatal accident in Texan mine The US Mine Safety & Health Administration is investigating a fatal accident at a lignite coal mine 50 miles south of San Antonio, Texas, where a 45-year old worker sustained fatal head injuries when a dragline rotated and struck him during the connection of the line and an electric cable. This was the 27th US mine fatality of 2007, the first in 6 years in Texas.9th November 2007
Hungary Three children killed in gravel pit accident A substantial ingress of sand at a gravel pit in Veszprem, western Hungary, has killed three 12-year old children who were playing there yesterday, fire crews recovered 2 of the bodies quickly but it took a digger and searcher dogs some hours to locate the 3rd child. A 15-year old boy who was playing with the group managed to extricate himself and raise the alarm.1st November 2007
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China Maintenance workers bodies recovered at Shanxi mine A further 5 bodies were recovered on Sunday at the Shanxi Jinle Coal Mine Industrial Co. Ltd. premises where a collapse had killed 4 other workers earlier in the weekend. The licensed mine had been closed for maintenance work when the accident occurred, 7 of the 16 workers in the mine at that time escaped safely. 5th November 2007
South Africa Fatal explosion at Kloof gold mine An explosion 3 km underground at No 4 Shaft of Gold Fields Ltd's Kloof mine near Westonaria left 2 workers dead and 2 others injured on Wednesday, the victims were working in a stope on 41 Level when the accident occurred, blasting operations were immediately cancelled. 1st November 2007
October 2007
China Race to rescue trapped miners Rescuers are racing against time to reach 10 miners trapped in the flooded Lingxian mine in Jiangxi's Le'an County where 500m³ of water ingress has occurred, 12 miners were underground at the time and 2 came out; 9 miners have been trapped for more than 2 days at the privately owned Yaotou mine in Weinan, Shaanxi, rescuers are optimistic given the low gas density there and higher oxygen levels. 29th October 2007.
Spain Worker trapped in Galician rail tunnel site An accident on a construction site in the Alveiros AVE high speed rail tunnel near Trasalba, between Orense and Santiago, northwest Sapin, left a worker trapped on Monday, efforts were continuing to release him. 30th October 2007.
Ukraine Fire at Fruzne mine Fire at a depth of 870 metres in the Fruzne coal mine in the Donetsk basin has led to the evacuation of 500 miners, no reports of injuries have been received. In recent days in the Donetsk area mining accidents have been recorded at the Izvestia, Gagarin and Knibshevskaya collieries. 29th October 2007
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Australia Gold miners safely rescued after lorry fire Fire broke out on a lorry in the Kanowna Belle gold mine of Barrick Gold Corporation 13 miles northeast of Kalgoorlie on Wednesday, all 54 miners sought immediate shelter in the underground refuges and by evening all had been safely rescued. 25th October 2007
Bulgaria Miner killed, another missing A search was being conducted through Wednesday for a miner missing in an earthworks collapse at the Oranovo mine near Simitli, southern Bulgaria, the accident has already claimed the life of a 43-year old miner. 25th October 2007
USA Electrician killed in West Virginia mine Investigators are studying the circumstances of the death of a 54-year old electrician at the Pleasant Hill mine of the Carter Roag Coal Company in Mill Creek, West Virginia, where the victim apparently became caught in a conveyor roller in a 1.2m-high seam tunnel. 23rd October 2007
China Miners' bodies recovered after gas explosion The bodies of 19 trapped miners have been recovered from the Jiangxin Colliery in Shangtang, Fengcheng City, where a gas explosion caused a 360-tonne blockage of coal in a 30-metre long tunnel, 283 miners were underground at the time. The 49-year old mine, owned by the Jiangxi Coal Group Company, has been beset by high gas density levels in recent decades, Monday's readings were 0.2%. Two miners are recovering in hospital, 1 is listed in stable condition. 16th October 200
Colombia 21 killed at Suarez gold mine The collapse of a wall and subsequent landslide at a gold mine in Suarez has seen 21 "barequeros" miners killed, a further 28 have been injured. The "barequeros" are allowed on to the premises near the La Salvajina works on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday when they can work on the earth banked up by the excavators. However, near the end of their shift on Saturday a wall by the River Suarez failed. 15th October 2007
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England Workplace death at quarry A man has died in an industrial accident at the Chatsworth Blue Haze quarry near Somerley, Hampshire. It would appear that the deceased, reportedly a tyre fitter, was operating hydraulic equipment for changing vehicle tyres on Wednesday at the time when he sustained crush injuries . 12th October 2007
Uganda New case of haemorrhagic Marburg fever at gold mine A mine worker has been stricken with Marburg fever at the Kitaka gold mines in the Kamwenge district of Uganda, 260 miles west of Kampala. The mines have been closed since the August outbreak, following which the health ministry has commissioned a research team to collect 1,000 bats from the area. It is believed that the victim had been guiding the research team but had gone into the mines unprotected from hazards. 4th October 2007
Bulgaria Transport fatality at mine Investigation is underway into the death of an excavator driver who was found dead on the premises of the Obedinem mine near Pernik, it is speculated that the severe head injuries were sustained after being struck by a bulldozer while walking in an unlit area of the premises. 4th October 2007
September 2007
USA Wyoming trona mine fatality A trona (hydrous carbonate of soda) mine worker has died when transport in which he and a colleague were travelling overturned at the mine near Green River, southwest Wyoming. 21st September 2007
South Africa Rail tunnel site fatality A construction worker has died in a tunnel accident at the Gautrain Marlboro Station construction site after being struck by a vehicle in the tunnel. 19th September 2007
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USA West Virginia mining death The 5th mining fatality of the year in West Virginia was recorded on Sunday at the Mountain Laurel Complex of Arch Coal, 50 miles southwest of Charleston, no details of the underground accident were immediately available, this becomes the 25th national mine death of the year. 17th September 2007
South Africa Demolition fatality at gold mine A demolition worker was killed on Wednesday when a 30-metre high silo collapsed on the cab of the pecker he was operating to break up concrete at East Rand Proprietary Mines in Boksburg, the pecker was partially buried, rescuers may not be able to recover the victim's body until later today (Thursday). 6th September 2007
South Africa Driefontein miner killed in earth tremor An earth tremor measuring 1.5 on the Richter scale has led to the death of a miner working 3km underground at the No 5 shaft of the Driefontein mine of Gold Fields Ltd, 2 other miners were injured, work has been suspended at the shaft.4th September 2007
August 2007
USA Worker trapped in Nevada mine A search has been ongoing for a Nevada miner missing at the Getchell Mine, 180 miles northeast of Reno, the miner was operating a roof bolter when subsidence occurred and he became trapped under his equipment, the mine is operated under contract by Small Mine Development of Idaho. 30th August 2007
Uganda Marburg fears lead to gold miner camp's isolation An isolation zone has been established at a gold mining camp in Kamwenge, western Uganda, it affects around 50 miners who may have been in contact with a colleague who has recently died from suspected Marburg fever, laboratory tests have confirmed the situation, the victim (29) was a miner and it is thought he may have contracted the disease after trapping and skinning a monkey. A 21-year old miner who participated in handling the monkey has made a reasonable recovery. An isolation zone has also been
Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com established at a clinic in Kamwenge. The most recent outbreak of Marburg fever claimed 250 Angolan lives 2 years ago. 8th August 2007
China Construction workers trapped in flooded railway tunnel Rescuers in Hubei province in central China are confident of reaching the 12 workers trapped after earthworks collapsed early on Sunday at the Yesanguan railway tunnel in Enshi prefecture, 40 of the 52 workers trapped initially have been rescued. The workers were at a location 240 metres down a gradient when rain water ingress, estimated at a volume of 50m³ per hour, caused the earthworks to collapse in the 10- mile-long tunnel, a new project on the 250-mile Yiwan railway. 6th August 2007
July 2007
USA Contractor killed in Tennessee mine accident A contract worker of Cowin and Company Inc of Alabama has died in an accident during the replacement of structural steelwork in the main shaft at the Immel Mine of East Tennessee Zinc Company in East Knox, Tennessee, it is believed that the fatal accident involved a fall, the Mine Safety & Health Administration has issued a stop- work order at the mine which had been closed for 5 years. 31st July 2007
China 70 miners trapped by flooding Rescue efforts are ongoing to reach 70 miners trapped by flooding yesterday at the 50- year old state-owned Zhijian coal mine in Shanxian county, Henan. 30th July 2007
New Zealand Maintenance worker killed in crush accident at quarry OSH is investigating a fatal crush accident at Cape Foulwind, on the northwest coast of South Island, where falling machinery killed a worker engaged on maintenance of a conveyor belt at Holcim's Westport Works Cement Quarry, the conveyor drive was not operating at the time of the accident. 14th July 2007
South Africa Miner's body recovered at Limpopo mine The body of a 31-year old miner was recovered yesterday at the Two Rivers mine in Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
Steelport, Limpopo, he was listed missing last week following mud ingress at the mine. 10h July 2007
Niger Chinese uranium mine worker abducted A Chinese national working for a uranium company in north Niger has been kidnapped by the Niger Movement for Justice (MNJ), Tuareg rebels who are demanding of Chinese companies to stop working in the desert. His abduction near the In-Gall oasis, 75 miles west of Agadez, north of the Tiguidit cliffs, is not regarded as life-threatening but as a bargaining chip, the Tuaregs, who have been raiding uranium mines in the salt plain areas earlier this year, are claiming they seek greater integration. 9th July 2007.
June 2007
China Managers arrested after mine explosion Three managers and a supervisor of the Niheling coal mine in Shanxi's Jingle County have been arrested following a gas explosion there which left 13 miners dead, the mine was operating with a legal license. 6th June 2007.
South Africa Rock fall kills gold miner A gold miner engaged in drilling has been killed in a rock fall while working 2,600 metres underground at level 40 of No 1 shaft in Gold Fields Driefontein mine near Carletonville; earlier this week mud ingress killed 3 miners down the Parldekrall shaft at the Rustenburg mine of Anglo Platinum. 6th June 2007
May 2007
Canada Bid to reach trapped gold miner Rescuers are striving to reach a trapped miner in the Seabee gold mine of Claude Resources in the far northeast of Saskatchewan, 80 miles northeast of La Rouge, following an industrial accident there. 31st May 2007 Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
Russia 38 miners killed in Siberian mine explosion At least 38 Russian miners were killed in a gas explosion yesterday at the Yubileynaya mine of OAO Yuzkhuzbassugol in Novokuznetsk, Kemorovo. 217 miners were underground when the explosion occurred at a depth of 520 metres, inspection agency Rostekhnadzel alleges breaches of mine operating safety conditions, previous allegations have included disabling of gas detectors to maintain production figures. Tomorrow (Saturday) marks an official day of mourning in Kemerovo in respect of the dead miners. 25th May 2007
China Explosion kills 13 miners in se China A gas explosion has killed 13 miners at the Xinglong coal mine in Sichuan, of 36 underground at the time 20 were rescued, 3 are missing, the mine was operating legally with a licence. 25th May 2007
Ukraine Methane explosion highlights deep shaft venting problems The methane gas explosion which claimed the lives of 3 miners and injured 18 at the Krasnolymanska coal mine in Ukraine's east Donetsk area highlights the difficulties of ventilation in the country's extremely deep mines. 28 miners were drilling at the time at a depth of 3K feet when the methane build-up led to an explosion, all 452 miners underground at the time were evacuated. 16th May 2007
China Explosion in illegal mine kills 28 coalminers An explosion in the Pudeng coalmine, operating illegally without a licence, left at least 28 miners dead at Linfen in Keching, Shanxi province, rescuers were striving to improve ventilation in the smoke-logged shaft on Monday in search of 2 other missing miners. 125 miners had been working underground at the time of the accident, 95 escaped, 23 of whom sustained injuries of varying severity. Shanxi Provincial Bureau of Work Safety in north China had earlier revoked the 20-year old mine's operating licence, the workers had been hired by 5 different mining contractors. 8th May 2007
Vietnam Explosion kills 4 miners An explosion at a North-East Coal Corporation mine in Cam Pha, 100 miles east of
Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
Hanoi, has killed 4 miners, the second fatal accident at the mine this year. 2nd May 2007
April 2007
England Girl killed at Yorkshire quarry The irresistible attraction of quarries as play areas has once again claimed a life, this time a 13-year-old girl. The tragedy occurred last Wednesday at the active quarry at Grimethorpe, near Barnsley, the girl was found beside a large rock. 30th April 2007.
Switzerland Worker injured in Alpine tunnel An Alp Transit construction worker was injured yesterday after becoming pinned against a tunnel wall by equipment at a site in Bodio in the Tessin canton, no details of his injuries are known. 26th April 2007
China 45 Chinese miners trapped in explosion and flood accidents Two separate mine accidents in China have left 45 miners trapped. An explosion at Wangzhuang Colliery in Henan has seen 33 of 42 miners trapped underground, rescuers' tasks are compounded by the mine's poor ventilation and high gas levels as well as the owner's abscondence, leaving them bereft of crucial geological data. An attempt was being made to introduce inert gas to extinguish the flames. Meanwhile, flooding has trapped 12 miners in Zhuzhou in Hunan, locally heavy rains are hampering rescue efforts. Although a figure of 661 official mining deaths has been released for the first quarter of the year, a reduction of 15% on last year, this may well have been massaged by under- reporting of incidents. 17th April 2007 Update 20th April. 3 miners were rescued alive after 111 hours underground, 4 are still missing
England NE miner killed at potash mine A rock fall has claimed the life of a 24-year-old miner as he worked underground at the Cleveland Potash Limited mine at Boulby, Teesside. He died following last Thursday's accident when the rock detached at a sidewall. Cleveland Potash Limited is part of ICL Fertilizers. 21st April 2007
Mine, Quarry, Pit, and Tunnel Accidents and Fatalities From www.safetynews.co.uk Courtesy of Burgess and Associates-Hot Zone USA www.hzburgess.com
China Tunnel accident allegations There have been allegations of a delay in the reporting of a fatal accident at the site of a new underground rail tunnel at Haidan University, Beijing, where China Railway 12th Bureau Group Co Ltd is engaged in construction work for the forthcoming Olympics. A number of workers were trapped 11 metres underground when earthworks collapsed, as many as 10 are feared dead. Design staff and a supervisor have been arrested, a construction supervisor has absconded. 2nd April 2007